In the Arctic Regions. 435 
as the ice opens, They are distinguished from | us, 
who live to the westward of the river, by the men 
being tattoed across the face. Among our tribes the 
women only are tattoed ;” having five or six blue lines 
drawn perpendicularly from the under lip to the chin. 
The speaker added, “‘If you are obliged to return by 
this way, before these people remove, we, with a re- 
inforcement of young men, will be in the vicinity, and 
will willingly accompany you to assist in repelling any 
attack.” Augustus returned with the Esquimaux to 
their tents, as there was not the least prospect of our, 
getting forward, though the ice was somewhat broken. 
Tuesday, A gtrong breeze from the westward during 
the night, contributed, with the swell, to the further 
reduction of the ice, in front of the encampment ; and 
on the morning of the 11th, the wind changed to the 
eastward, and removed the pieces a little way off shore, 
though they were tossing too violently for the boats 
to proceed. The swell having subsided in the after- 
noon, we embarked ; but at the end of a mile and a 
half were forced to land again, from the ice being fixed 
to the shore ; and as the wind had now become strong, 
and was driving the loose pieces on the land the boats 
were unloaded and landed on the beach. From the 
summit of an adjoining hill we perceived an unbroken 
field of ice to the west, and consequently, a barrier to 
our progress. 
