310 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, and with great reluctance left this remarkable point without being able 
to leave any traces of our having visited it for Captain Franklin. The 
NaiTative wind about one v. m. began gradually to fall, and at two it w^as perfectly 
Barge. Calm. Unfortunately we were now in too much water to anchor, and 
were, without the possibility of helping it, being set to the IST. E. by 
the current at the rate of three miles and a half an hour. By four 
o’clock we had lost all we had made during the day, with a prospect, 
if it continued calm, of being drifted quite off the land — an accident 
that, had it occurred, would have placed our little vessel in a very serious 
situation. We were not, however, long in this state of suspense; for an 
air came again from the eastward, which strengthening a little, and 
the boat ahead towing, we made good progress towards the land, where, 
if it once more fell calm, we could retain our position with the anchor, 
^^^hen we had by towing and pulling got within a mile of the beach 
(and about tw^o miles west of the point), nineteen of the natives came 
dowm opposite us, armed with bows, arrows, and spears, and imagin- 
ing that it was our intention to land motioned us to keep off, and 
seemed quite prepared for hostilities. Some of them were stripped 
almost naked. They preserved a greater silence than we found cus- 
tomary among them, one only speaking at a time, and apparently 
interrogating us. Notwithstanding this show of resistance, we still ad- 
vanced nearer to the shore, as being more out of the current and favour- 
able to our views, at the same time having the arms in readiness in 
case of an attack. 
When within about thirty yards of the beach, we lost the wind, 
and continued pulling and towing along shore, the natives walking 
abreast of us upon the beach. At eight p. m. we passed a village of 
eight tents and four boats, but saw neither women nor children. Whilst 
approaching this village, we perceived the men hauling their baidars 
higher up on the beach, fearful, as we supposed, that we should molest 
them. Their dogs, as usual, set up a most abominable yelling. About 
eleven our pedestrians began to lag, and shortly after made a general 
halt, watched us for a little while, and then turned back. At midnight 
we reached Cape Smyth, and considering ourselves tolerably well secure 
from the ice (not having seen any until our arrival off this point on the 
