OLD WHALING DAYS. 99 



the affair. The following morning was calm, and the boats 

 were sent away again. It was my turn to stay by the ship 

 to fill up our fresh water tanks from the land. Having 

 pulled to the beach, I was much surprised at the natives 

 refusing to allow me to land. Their attitude and shouts were 

 apparently hostile. They seemed inclined to retaliate for 

 sending them on shore the previous day. Therefore, I had 

 no alternative but to return. They did not come on board 

 until late in the afternoon, when they appeared as friendly 

 as ever. I was again sent on shore with a cask for water, 

 and this time they gave us a helping hand to pass the 

 buckets along, which was very unusual, as they do not like 

 too much work. This was the first and only time I saw any 

 unfriendly feeling manifested by the Esquimaux. What 

 their first intentions had been we never could ascertain. I 

 once read of them taking possession of a ship belonging to 

 the Hudson Bay Company, but I never thought of their 

 daring to attempt it with us, who numbered fifty-two men, 

 though when seven boats are away, it leaves but few in 

 charge of the ship. T2be next day all hands were told off to 

 fill up our fresh water Tanks, as it was freezing keenly. The 

 captain sent me on shore with two of the most ill-favoured 

 looking natives amongst the lot. They told the captain that 

 a short distance inland were plenty of deer. We travelled 

 four hours, then came to a small lake. Footprints were 

 numerous and quite fresh, but no deer were in sight. We 

 remained two hours longer ; then I wished to return on 

 board before it became dark, and told them my intentions, 

 but they flatly refused, saying we must stay until dusk, when 

 the deer would come from the hills to drink. I was rather 

 puzzled how to act. If it took us four hours to come, and 

 we had shot anything, it would have taken five hours at the 

 least to return with a load. The captain had lent each 

 native a gun, which was the first they had seen, although 

 they had heard of them. 



