292 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. 
XL 
August, 
1826. 
ments being found upon it, should be called by a word signifying the 
same thing in the Esquimaux language. For East Cape they had no 
name, and they had no knowledge of any other part of the Asiatic coast. 
Neither Schismareff Bay nor the inlet in the Bay of Good Hope was 
delineated by them, though they were not ignorant of the former 
when it was pointed out to them. It has been supposed that these 
two inlets communicate, and that the Esquimaux, who intimated to 
Kotzebue that a boat could proceed nine days up the latter and would 
then find the sea, alluded to this junction ; but our rude hydrographers 
knew of no such communication ; which I think they certainly would, 
had it existed, as by pursuing that course they would have avoided a 
passage by sea round Cape Espenburg, which in deep-laden boats is 
attended with risk, from the chance of their not being able to land 
upon the coast. They would, at all events, have preferred an inland 
navigation had it not been very circuitous. 
We passed the greater part of the day with these intelligent 
people, who amused us the whole time in some way or other. The chief, 
previous to our embarkation, examined every part of our boat, and was 
highly pleased with the workmanship, but he seemed to regret that so 
much iron had been expended where thongs would have served as well. 
He was more astonished at the weight of a sounding lead than at any 
thing in the boat, never having felt any metal so heavy before ; iron 
pyrites being the heaviest mineral among this tribe. 
When we w ere about to embark, all the village assembled and took 
leave of us in the usual manner of the Esquimaux tribes, and as it was 
probable we should never meet again, the parting, much to our annoy- 
ance, w^as very affectionate. A middle-aged man, who had taken the 
lead throughout, and who was probably their neakoa (or head-man) 
recommended us to depart from these regions ; but I signified ray in- 
tention of waiting some time longer, and sleeping at least twenty nights 
where we were ; on which he shivered, and drew his arms in from hi^ 
sleeves, to apprise us of the approaching cold. I thanked him for his 
advice, and making them each a parting present we took our leave. The 
next morning they embarked every thing, and paddled over to Escholtz 
Bay. After they were gone, we found some of our flour where the tents 
