SHORES OF THE POLAR SEA. 241 



when the attack was to commence. Through 

 the blessing of Providence, their scheme was 

 frustrated." 



After this, the exploring party met with 

 no interruption from the natives, with whom 

 they had frequent intercourse as they pro- 

 ceeded along the coast, sometimes meeting 

 with very numerous parties, taking the 

 precaution, however, of keeping the boats 

 afloat, as far as it was possible, whenever 

 they approached their stations. 



It was observed that the farther they ad- 

 vanced to the westward the native Esqui- 

 maux bore a nearer resemblance to those 

 well-known Tartar features, of high cheek 

 bones and small elongated eyes : — 



"Every man had pieces of bone or shells 

 thrust through the septum of his nose ; and 

 holes were pierced on each side of the under 

 lip, in which were placed circular pieces of 

 ivory, with a large blue bead in the centre, 

 similar to those represented in the drawings 

 of the natives on the N.W. coast of America, 

 in Kotzebue's Voyage. These ornaments 

 were so much valued, that they declined 



VOL. IV. R 



