420 _ Thirty Years 
took his station in front to catch my arm whenever I 
attempted to lift my gun, or the broad dagger which 
hung by my side. The whole way to the shore they 
kept repeating the word “ teyma,” beating gently on 
my left breast with their hands, and pressing mine 
against their breasts. As we neared the beach, two 
oomiaks, full of women, arrived, and the “teymas’ 
and vociferation were redoubled. The Reliance was 
first brought to the shore, and the Lion close to her a 
few seconds afterwards. The three men who held me 
now leaped ashore, and those who had remained in 
their canoes, taking them out of the water, carried 
them to a little distance. A numerous party then 
drawing their knives, and stripping theniselves to the 
waist, ran to the Reliance, and having first hauled her 
as far up as they could, began a regular pillage, hand- 
ing the articles to the women, who, ranged in a row be- 
hind, quickly conveyed them out of sight. Lieuten- 
ant Back and his crew strenuously, but good-humor- 
edly, resisted the attack, and rescued many things 
from their grasp, but they were overpowered by num- 
bers, and had even some difficulty in preserving their 
arms. One fellow had the audacity to snatch Vivier’s 
knife from his breast, and to cut the buttons from his 
coat, whilst three stout Esquimaux surrounded Lieut- 
enant Back with uplifted daggers, and were incessant 
in their demands for whatever attracted their atten- 
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