OF THE POLAR SEA. 



153 



Akaitcho and the guides proposed that two 

 of the hunters should be despatched on this 

 service, who had extremely quick sight, and 

 were accustomed to act as scouts, an office 

 which requires equal caution and circum- 

 spection. A strong objection, however, lay 

 against this plan, in the probability of their 

 being discovered by a straggling hunter, 

 which would be destructive to every hope 

 of accommodation. It was therefore de- 

 termined to send Augustus and Junius, who 

 were very desirous to undertake the ser- 

 vice. These adventurous men proposed to 

 go armed only with pistols concealed in 

 their dress, and furnished with beads, look- 

 ing glasses, and other articles, that they 

 might conciliate their countrymen by pre- 

 sents. We could not divest our minds of 

 the apprehension, that it might be a service 

 of much hazard, if the Esquimaux were as 

 hostile to strangers as the Copper Indians 

 have invariably represented them to be; 

 and we felt great reluctance in exposing our 

 two little interpreters, who had rendered 

 themselves dear to the whole party, to the 



