An Expedition down the Begh-ula. 37 



customary present of tobacco, thanked us and immediately 

 returned, as did also the men, with a few exceptions. These 

 were not permitted to encamp with us, but camped on the 

 opposite side of the river, where they sat up till next 

 morning. 



Our encampment lay at the foot of a high hill, moss 

 covered and entirely destitute of wood, its face steep and 

 intersected by small clefts or hollows. These hills occasion- 

 ally form bends of the river. The banks on the left were, 

 as usual, rather better timbered, the breadth of the. river 

 more uniform, the current smoother, and the beach sandy, 

 stony and muddy at intervals. The country was almost 

 entirely covered with snow, and the shores thickly lined 

 with ice, the latter clearly proving that the river had broken 

 up but very recently. 



Eesuming our course early next morning (16th June) we 

 put ashore at 11 a.m., at a large encampment of Esquimaux 

 under " Dowlas," the head chief of this river (they are 

 governed by two chiefs), who received us very kindly; his 

 conduct then and afterwards was in perfect keeping with 

 this reception. This fine old man labored under an affection 

 of the thorax, which prevented him from making himself 

 heard at any distance; he appeared, however, to possess 

 considerable influence over his people, and we had therefore 

 little or no trouble while we remained at his place. I was 

 here informed that with the exception of a few lodges about 

 two miles below, no more Esquimaux would be seen until 

 we got near the coast, which was still at some distance ; 

 and that these Esquimaux were not, in the words of the 

 chief, " too good." Understanding from my interpreters 

 that they were Anderson River Esquimaux and under the 

 command of Dowlas, and also that they had some furs in 

 their possession, I saw no reason to prevent us from going 

 not only down to them, but as instructed, to the mouth of 

 the river, especially as he volunteered to accompany us for 

 the purpose of exercising his authority in our favor. On 

 the contrary, from their being of Dowlas' party, I expected 



