OF THE POLAR SEA. 



77 



less, in comparison with the real injury we 

 sustained from the want of supplies, that 

 we were led to believe they were preferred 

 solely for the purpose of cloaking his own 

 want of attention to the terms of his engage- 

 ment. He then shifted his ground, and 

 stated, that if we endeavoured to make a 

 voyage along the sea-coast we should in- 

 evitably perish ; and he advised us strongly 

 against persisting in the attempt. This part 

 of his harangue being an exact transcript of 

 the sentiments formerly expressed by our 

 interpreters, induced us to conclude that 

 they had prompted his present line of con- 

 duct, by telling him that we had goods or 

 rum concealed. He afterwards received a 

 portion of our dinner in the manner he had 

 been accustomed to do, and seemed inclined 

 to make up matters with us in the course 

 of the evening, provided we added to the 

 present offered to him. Being told, how- 

 ever, that this was impossible, since we had 

 already offered him all the rum we had, and 

 every article of goods we could spare from 

 our own equipment, his obstinacy was a 



