FIGHT WITH ESQUIMAUX. 195 



preter, explained the objects of the visit, and that if they should succeed in finding a 

 navigable channel for large ships a great trade would be opened with them. This 

 delighted them, and they shouted with the greatest vigour. Unfortunately, just after this, 

 " a kaiyack being overset by one of the Lion's (the leading boat) oars, its owner was 

 plunged into the water with his head in the mud, and apparently in danger of being 

 drowned. We instantly extricated him from his unpleasant situation, and took him into 

 the boat until the water could be thrown out of his kaiyack ; and Augustus, seeing him 

 shivering with cold, wrapped him up in his own great-coat. At first he was exceedingly 

 angry, but soon became reconciled to his situation, and, looking about, discovered that we 

 had many bales and other articles in the boat, which had been concealed from the people 

 in the kaiyacks by the coverings being carefully spread over all. He soon began to ask 

 for everything he saw, and expressed much displeasure on our refusing to comply with his 

 demands. He also, we afterwards learned, excited the cupidity of others by his account of 

 the inexhaustible riches in the Lion, and several of the younger men endeavoured to get 

 into both our boats, but we resisted all their attempts/' 



They, however, tried hard to steal everything on which they could lay hands. One 

 of the crew noticed that the native who had been upset had stolen a pistol from Lieu- 

 tenant Back, which he endeavoured to conceal under his shirt, and the thief, finding it 

 was observed, jumped out of the boat into the shallow water, and escaped. 



" Two of the most powerful men," says Franklin, " jumping on board at the same 

 time, seized me by the wrists, and forced me to sit between them; and as I shook them 

 loose two or three times, a third Esquimaux took his station in front to catch my arm 

 whenever ! attempted to lift my gun or the broad dagger which hung by my side. The 

 whole way to the shore they kept repeating the word ' teyma,' beating gently on my left 

 breast with their hands and pressing mine against their breasts. As we neared the beach 

 two oomiaks, full of Avomen, arrived, and the ' teymas ' and vociferations were redoubled. 

 The Reliance was first brought to the shore, and the Lion close to her a few seconds 

 afterwards. The three men who held me now leaped ashore, and those who had remained 

 in their canoes, taking them out of the water, carried them a little distance. A numerous 

 party then, drawing their knives and stripping themselves to the waist, ran to the 

 Reliance, and, having first hauled her as far up as they could, began a regular pillage, 

 handing the articles to the women, who, ranged in a row behind, quickly conveyed them 

 out of sight." In short, Lieutenant Back, who had desisted from any violence up to this 

 period, now ordered his men to level their muskets on them, but not to fire till the word 

 of command. The effect was magical as a stage effect : in a few minutes not an 



~ O 



Esquimaux was to be seen. They made for the shore, and hid behind the piles of drift- 

 wood on the beach. Augustus, the interpreter, subsequently made speech to them, showing 

 them that their conduct had been very bad, and that the " white man " could well take 

 care of himself. " Do not deceive yourselves," said he, " and suppose they are afraid of 

 you. I tell you they are not, and that it is entirely owing to their humanity that many 

 of you were not killed to-day; for they have all guns, with which they can destroy you 

 -either when near or at a distance. I also have a gun, and can assure you that if a white 

 man had fallen I would have been the first to have revenged his death." The language, 



