In the Arctic S 411 



us with much caution, halting when just within 

 speaking distance, until they had been assured of our 

 friendship, ami repeatedly invited by Augustus to ap- 

 proach and receive the present which 1 offered to 

 them. Augustus next explained to them in detail I 

 purport of our visit, ami told them that it we suc- 

 ceeded in finding a navigable channel for large ships, 

 a trade highly beneficial to them would be opened. 

 They were delighted with this intelligence, and 

 peated it to their countrymen, who testified their joy 

 by tossing their hands aloft, and raising the m 

 deafening shout of applause I ever heard. 



!■ the lir-t pies. 'iit, I resolved to bestow no more 

 gratuitously, but always to exaot something, b >wt 

 small, in return ; the three elderlymen readily offered 

 the ornaments they wore in their cheeks, their arms, 

 and knives, in exchange for the articles I gave them. 

 Up to this time tie- first three were the only kaiyaeks 

 that had ventured near the boats, hut the natives 

 around us had n8w increased to two hundred and fifty 

 or three hundred persons, and they all became anxious 

 to Bhare in the lucrative trade which tie tab- 



lished, and pressed eagerly upon us, offering for - 

 their hows, arrows, aid Bpe us, which they had hither- 

 to kept concealed within their canoes I endeavi 

 in vain, amidst the clamor and bustle of trade, to 

 tain Bome information respecting the coast, hut finding 



