428 Thirty Years 



to assure them that every person would be shot who 

 should pass the prescribed limit. This plan was 

 adopted in all succeeding interviews with the Esqui- 

 maux. After five hours' absence Augustus returned, 

 accompanied by twenty men and two elderly women, 

 who halted at the boundary. They had come without 

 bows or arrows, by the desire of Augustus, and, fol- 

 lowing his instruction, each gave Lieuteuant Back 

 and myself a hearty shake of the hand. We made 

 presents to every one of beads, fish-hooks, awls, and 

 trinkets ; and that they might have entire confidence 

 in the whole party, our men were furnished with beads, 

 to present to them. The men were directed to advance 

 singly, and in such a manner as to prevent the Es- 

 quimaux from counting our number, unless they paid 

 the greatest attention, which they were not likely to 

 do while their minds were occupied by a succession of 

 novelties. 



Our visitors were soon quite at case, and we were 

 pr< paiing to question them respecting the coast, and 

 the time of removal of the iee, when Augustus begged 

 that he might put on his gayesl dress, and bis medals, 

 before the conference began, This was the work of a 

 few Beconde ; but when he returned, surprise and de- 

 lighl at his altered appearance, and numerous orna- 

 ments so engaged their minds, that their attention 

 could not be drawn to any other subjeot for the next 



