THE ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS. 115 



phenomenon, so teirible to the savages, produced 

 the desired effect. Scarcely had the cannon been 

 fired, when a dreadful howling arose in the whole 

 island, which lasted for above a quarter of an hour j 

 in the mean time our boats returned : it was quite 

 dark. The sailor who had been missed candidly 

 confessed that love had led him astray, that the 

 girl would not make him happy till after svm-set, 

 and had till then conducted him to a hut in the 

 interior of the island ; here a number of islanders 

 had assembled, who would not let him go ; they 

 lighted a fire, and stripped him : all fell on the 

 ground as if struck by lightning when the shot was 

 fired, and my sailor fortunately escaped. 



The ^Ist of February. The fright of last night 

 still operated to-day, so that nobody ventured on 

 board till some of our gentlemen had gone on 

 shore. They had asked a great many questions, 

 what the report and flash were ? And when they 

 were told that 1 had on that occasion paid a visit 

 to heaven, my consideration was doubled among 

 them, and they behaved with great propriety. As 

 I intended to leave Airick to-morrow, I paid some 

 visits to-day, and was treated wdth the most 

 distinguished respect. I could not see the old 

 queen, as admittance was refused me by two sen- 

 tinels armed with lances. To the princess, how- 

 ever, and some of the nobles I was allowed to 

 make as many presents as I liked. Labeleoa pre- 

 pared a farewell, Eb ; three men and three w^omen 



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