In the Arctic Regions. 421 
tion, especially for the anchor buttons which he wore 
on his waistcoat. In this juncture a young chief com- 
ing to his aid, drove the assailants away. In their re- 
treat they carried off a writing desk and cloak, which 
the chief rescued, and then seating himself on Lieu- 
tenant Back’s knee, he endeavored to persuade his 
countrymen to desist by vociferating “‘ teyma teyma,” 
and was, indeed, very active in saving whatever he 
could from their depredations. The Lion had hitherto 
been beset by smaller numbers, and her crew, by firm- 
ly keeping their seats on the cover spread over the 
cargo, and by beating the natives off with the butt- 
ends of their muskets, had been able to prevent any 
article of importance from being carried away. But 
as soon as I perceived that the work of plunder was 
going on so actively in the Reliance, I went with Au- 
gustus to assist in repressing the tumult; and our 
bold and active little interpreter rushed among the 
crowd on shore, and harangued them on their treach- 
erous conduct, until he was actually hoarse. In a 
short time, however, I was summoned back by Dun- 
can, who called out to me that the Esquimaux had 
now commenced in earnest to plunder the Lion, and, 
on my return, I found the sides of the boat lined with 
men as thick as they could stand, brandishing their 
knives in the most furious manner, and attempting to 
seize everything that was movable; whilst another 
