112 Thirty Years 



Discovery ships, under the command of Captain Parry, 

 which had been mentioned to him, and asked why a 

 passage had not been discovered long ago, if one exist- 

 ed. It may be stated that we gave a faithful explana- 

 tion to all his inquiries, which policy would have 

 prompted us to do if a love of truth had not ; for 

 whenever these northern nations detect a falsehood in 

 the dealings of the traders, they make it an unceasing 

 subject of reproach, and their confidence is irrecovera- 

 bly lost. 



We presented to the chief, the two guides, and the 

 seven hunters, who had engaged to accompany us, 

 some cloth, blankets, tobacco, knives, daggers, besides, 

 oilier useful iron materials, and a gun to each ; also a 

 keg of very weak spirits and water, which they kept 

 until the evening, as they had to try their guns before 

 dark, and make the necessary preparations for com- 

 mencing the journey on tlie following day. The In- 

 dians, however, did nol leave us on the next d,i\. ae 

 the chief was desirous of being present, with hisparty, 

 at the dance, which was given in the evening to our 

 Canadian voyagers. They were highly entertained by 

 the vivacity and agility displayed by our companions 

 in their singing and dancing : and especially by their 



imitating the gestures of a I 'anadian, who placed him- 

 self in the mosl ludicrous postures; and, whenever 



this was done, the gravity of the chief gave way to 



