1 it tin An 413 



and having walked towards the mouth of the rii 

 discovered on an island, which formi d the east side of 

 bay into which the river opened, a crowd of tents, 

 with many Esquimaux strolling amongst them, 1 in- 

 Btantly hastened to the boats, to make preparations 

 for opening a communication with them, agreeably to 

 my instructions. A .-.lection of articles for presents 

 and trade being made, the rest of the lading was cl< 

 ly covered up ; the arms were inspected, and every 

 man was directed to keep his gun ready for immediate 

 use. I had previously informed Lieutenant Back of 

 my intention of opening the communication with the 

 Esquimaux by landing amongsl them, accompanied 

 only by Augustus ; and I now instructed him to keep 



the l>« »:t t ^ afloat, and the news with their arms ready 

 to support us in the event of the natives proving i. 

 tile ; hut on ti" account to lire until he was convinced 

 that our safety could be secured in no other way. 

 Saving received an impression from the narratives of 

 differenl na\ hat the sacrifices of life which had 



occurred in their interviews with j, had been 



generally occasioned by the news mistaking ooise and 

 violent gestures for decided hostility, 1 thought it ne- 

 ny to ' xplain my sentiments on this p lint to all 

 the men, and peremptorily forbade their firing till I 

 Bel the i x imple, i r till they were ordered by 



Lieutenant Back. They were also forbidden to trade- 



