80 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



leaving us without the means of making any 

 presents to the Esquimaux or other In- 

 dians we might meet. I resolved, therefore, 

 on steadily refusing every request ; and 

 when he perceived that he could extort 

 nothing more, he rose in an angry manner, 

 and addressing his young men, said : " There 

 are too few goods for me to distribute; 

 those that mean to follow the white people 

 to the sea may take them." 



This was an incautious speech, as it ren- 

 dered it necessary for his party to display 

 their sentiments. The guides, and most of 

 the hunters, declared their readiness to go, 

 and came forward to receive a portion of 

 the present, which was no inconsiderable 

 assortment. This relieved a weight of 

 anxiety from my mind, and I did not much 

 regard the leader's retiring in a very dis- 

 satisfied mood. 



The hunters then applied to Mr. Went- 

 zel for ammunition, that they might hunt in 

 the morning, and it was cheerfully given to 

 them. 



The officers and men amused themselves 



