AN ALARM. 449 



" Proceeding eastward for about two miles along a low sandy coast, we 

 endeavoured to land to examine what looked like a signal mark, but owing to 

 the shoal water, could not get within a quarter of a mile. However, as we 

 advanced farther, we saw from another direction that it was not such a sig- 

 nal as should lead us to suppose that white people had been there. Farther on 

 again, a mark more conspicuous than any we had yet seen attracted our atten- 

 tion, and we landed a short distance west of it, but found after all it was 

 just such a one as we had before seen, except that it was a little larger. 

 Here we dined, and were shortly after joined by a party of Eskimos landing 

 from an oomiak, among whom we recognised a woman, and also the man 

 who had attempted to steal the shovel that morning. We did not allow 

 them to infringe upon our boundary line this time, and watched them quite 

 as closely as they did us. We shoved off, leaving our friends behind, and with 

 a light air from north-west, followed the shore as close as shoal water would 

 allow us ; and when abreast of the western part of the eastern isle of Jones's 

 group, hauled over towards it. The mirage was now very strong, objects 

 assuming ever-varying and distorted shapes ; and when half-way across the 

 channel, between the islands and the main, I was so firmly convinced in my 

 own mind that a large boat was coming in from seaward under sail between 

 the two islands and towards us, that we down sail directly, pulled out for it, 

 and did not discover until having approached it, considerably to our disap- 

 pointment, that it was a small piece of ice, of which there were great quan- 

 tities close down on the northern shores of the islands. 



" Soon after we saw the oomiak, much farther to the westward, paddling 

 up towards the islands. I supposed the Eskimos were going out after seals. 

 At 8.30 P.M. we landed on the southern shores of the eastern isle about half 

 way along it. It was now quite calm, and as I intended to go on all night, we 

 got supper. While the men were lying round a large fire, getting a little 

 sleep before starting, we were visited by a party of natives, none of whom 

 we had seen before. Among them was a man, apparently a chief, with a 

 musket of English manufacture, having the name ' Barnet ' on it. He had 

 also a powder-horn and about a quarter of a pound of powder, but no shot. 

 He was very proud of his treasure (which, however, looked rather the worse 

 for wear), and was very desirous of getting more ammunition. He fixed off 

 his musket twice as if to show that he knew how to use it ; but it was not 

 done without great preparation, such as planting himself firmly on his legs, 

 tucking up his sleeves, and throwing back the hood of his frock. Indeed, 

 the second time he fired he threw the hood off altogether in order to be quite 

 clear of it. I gave him a charge of powder, and to the rest, as well as him- 

 self, a few beads and pieces of tobacco. Great shouting was now heard, and 

 as it soon became evident that there were many more natives approaching, 

 I roused the men up, got into the boats, and at 11.30 p.m. pushed off. 

 9 3l 



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