414 ‘Thirty Years 
with the natives on any pretence, and were ordered to 
leave every thing of that kind to the officers. 
On quitting the channel of the river we entered into 
the bay, which was about six miles wide, with an un- | 
bounded prospect to seaward, and steered towards the 
tents under easy sail, with the ensigns flying. The 
water became shallow as we drew towards the island, 
and the boats touched the ground when about a mile 
from the beach ; we shouted, and made signs to the 
Esquimaux to come off, and then pulled a short way 
back to await their arrival in deeper water, Three 
canoes instantly put off from the shore, and before 
they could reach us others were launched in such quick 
succession, that the whole space between the island 
and the boats was covered by them, The Esquimaux 
canoes contain only one person, and are named 
, katyacks ; but they have a kind of open boat capable- 
of holding six or eight people, which is named oomiak. 
The men alone use the kaiyacks, and the oomiaks are 
allotted to the women and children. . We endeavored 
to count their numbers as they approached, and had 
proceeded as far as seventy-three .canoes, and five 
oomiaks, when the sea became so crowded by fresh 
arrivals, that we could advance no farther in our 
reckoning. Tbe three headmost canoes were paddled 
by elderly men, who, most probably, had been selected 
to open the communication. They advanced towards 
