284 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. When they came alongside, they were shown a handful of flour, and 
were referred to the island upon which the cask had been buried. 
^82^' guilty looks showed that they perfectly understood our mean- 
ing ; but they strongly protested their innocence, and as a proof that 
they could not possibly have committed the theft, they put their fingers 
to their tongues, and spit into the sea with disgust, to show us how 
much they disliked the taste of the material, little considering that the 
fact of their knowing it to be nauseous was a proof of their having 
tasted it : but no further notice was taken of the matter, as I wished 
as much as possible to conciliate their friendship on account of the land 
expedition. 
The baidars of these people were better made than any we had 
seen, excepting those of the St. Lawrence islanders, which they resem- 
bled in having a flap made of walrus skin attached to the gunwale for 
the purpose of keeping their bows and arrows dry. The natives had a 
great variety of articles for sale, all of which they readily parted with, 
except their bows, arrows, and spears, and those they would on no ac- 
count sell. Several old men were among their party, all of whom sat 
in the stern of the boat, a deference which, as I have already said, we 
every where observed to be paid to age by the younger part of this 
tribe. When they had sold all they intended to part with, and had 
satisfied their curiosity, they paddled on shore, well satisfied, no doubt, 
at having escaped detection. 
The next morning the .boats were sent to find water and to dig 
wells upon Chamisso Island, as we had but nine days’ supply on board 
at very reduced allowance. In the mean time I paid a visit to the 
Esquimaux, who were on their travels towards home with cargoes of 
dried salmon, oil, blubber, and skins, which they had collected in their 
summer excursion along the coast. When they perceived our boat 
approaching the shore, they despatched a baidar to invite us to their 
encampment ; and as we rowed toward the place together, observing with 
what facility they passed our boat, they applied their strength to their 
paddles, and, exulting on the advantage they possessed, left us far behind. 
It was perfectly smooth and calm, or this would not have been the 
case, as their boats have no hold of the water, and are easily thrown 
