286 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



will, had made the Indians take a reef in the sail, 

 which was still so large, however, that Jack appeared 

 to have all he could manage in steering the canoe to 

 prevent it being whisked round. Finally, I ordered 

 that our course should be directed into Bear Bay, in 

 the nearer corner of which it was possible to make 

 a landing by hauling the canoe over a collected mass 

 of logs and driftwood ; in the cutting, pushing, and 

 general handling of which the two men showed them- 

 selves wonderfully proficient, helping me to realise 

 what woodcraft meant. Soon after this I was given 

 an opportunity of estimating to what extent one can 

 safely impose restraint upon the wilful temper of an 

 independent savage. 



After sufficient space had been cleared for a small 

 camp, I decided to paddle out from shore to such a 

 distance as might afford a view of the heights above, 

 to enable me to judge of the best route for the ascent 

 in search of wild white goats the following day. Jack 

 was rowing with an oar which we had fortunately 

 found at the last camping place, and, on my signing 

 to him to exchange it for my paddle and take his place 

 in the stern, he instantly broke off the pin in a fit of 

 impatience and threw it overboard, thus rendering it 

 impossible for me to row as I had intended. "When 

 asked to carry some cartridges next day he refused. 



Early in the morning a start was made. In anti- 

 cipation of a dreadfully steep and somewhat danger- 

 ous scramble, I took sufficient provisions for three 

 days. Steep it proved, but after six hours' climbing 



