An Expedition down the Begh-ula. 89 



bank of the river (all the lodges passed were on that side) 

 where I was surprised to find only two men with the women 

 and children, of whom there were 35. They informed as that 

 the others had not yet returned from hunting, and that they 

 had no furs to traie. Embarking under sail, the wind 

 being fair, we were very shortly overtaken by 15 kayaks, to 

 the occupants of which the usual presents were made, but 

 without eliciting any thanks. The dress of these men was 

 observed to differ from the others in being ornamented with 

 beads, and in most of their coats being made of the skin of 

 the wild goat or sheep, animals only to be had in the 

 vicinity of the Rocky Mountains. I supposed that they 

 had received them from the western Esquimaux, and 

 although I noticed that their manner and the expression of 

 their countenances (which was fierce) were anything but 

 prepossessing, it never occurred to me that they were from 

 the vicinity of Mackenzie River, as I had no idea of 

 encountering any of that tribe at this period of the season. 

 Continuing on we passed another group of lodges, from 

 which upwards of 20 men put off to us, but no women. 

 Finding them very troublesome and in our way, the wind 

 having changed right ahead, I peremptorily ordered them 

 back, and as they would not return I stopped the canoes 

 and caused the crews to present their guns at them (this 

 was the first occasion we had to show our arms), which had 

 the effect of making them keep a little behind ; but they 

 persisted in following, and while we were occupied in deal- 

 ing with another party who met us, those behind came up 

 and joining the last they surrounded both canoes, laying- 

 hold of Lnporte's, evidently with the intention of dragging 

 it on shore, a proceeding which, after much trouble, aided 

 by the chiefs, we succeeded in preventing. We were con- 

 stantly joined by new arrivals, who were shouting at a 

 great rate and making much noise, and I now saw that 

 owing to the interpreters not having thoroughly understood 

 what Dowlas told them regarding these Esquimaux, whom 

 we had no doubt were from the westward, we had got 

 into a dilemma from which retreat with the canoes was 



