Native Dogs. 97 



I had a conversation with the Governor regarding 

 the chance of some of these animals being required 

 in the ensuing year for an exploring expedition to 

 the north. He informed me that in all probabilit) T 

 enough could be provided at this settlement, though 

 their value of late years had considerably increased. 

 Captain Hall, of the " Polaris," had purchased 

 twenty of these dogs, on his way to Smith's Sound, 

 at exorbitant prices ; some of the animals could not 

 be obtained, though the sum of 100 dollars was 

 offered for each dog. 



At half-past 4 p.m., having taken leave of the 

 Governor, whom we honoured with a salute from 

 seven of our harpoon guns, we got under weigh, 

 and, accompanied by 'the " Erik," shaped a course 

 through the thickly-clustered group of islands which 

 are everywhere dotted about in this neighbourhood. 

 Just as we were losing sight of the settlement, we 

 noticed a puff of white smoke, near the flag-staff 

 from which the Danish ensign was displayed, then 

 another and another, followed by a mild report, 

 which informed us that our salute had been acknow- 

 ledged and returned by three guns. It was more 

 than probable that these guns, with their ammuni- 

 tion, had to be dug out from some little nook or 

 corner in an out-of-the-way store-house. 



We followed in the wake of our consort, whose 

 experienced commander, being well acquainted with 

 the intricacies of the navigation through these 



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