256 NATIVE HUTS. 



these I found a quantity of knife-shavings, some 

 small wooden fish for decoys and floats, and the still 

 live embers of a fire ; we had also seen a dog on 

 landing ; and this, in connection with the fixe, indi- 

 cated that natives could not be far off, if, indeed, our 

 appearance had not put them to flight. These con- 

 jectures were correct : in a short time we saw a 

 number of Esquimaux in two oomiaks, and made 

 signs to them to return ; but they were evidently too 

 timid to approach. 



As they had seen us enter the huts, I judged it 

 probable that they would venture thither to seek the 

 result of our visit, so drew a hieroglyphic epistle 

 upon a piece of board, and placed it, with a few 

 beads and scraps of tobacco, inside, then departed 

 to a distance, where our men were preparing dinner. 

 Presently we saw one or two creeping stealthily 

 towards the huts, and soon afterwards they came to 

 us without distrust, doubtless assured of our good 

 intentions by the discovery of the trifling deposits 

 we had left, and which they now brought with 

 them. The "entente cordiale" was perfected by a 

 distribution of presents, and we engaged in a very 

 animated, but unproductive conversation respecting 

 the objects of oar search, which they had clearly 

 seen nothing of. 



