OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
277 
met with seemed to create no less joy than surprise. Whenever they received 
a present, or were shewn any thing which excited fresh admiration, they 
expressed their delight by loud and repeated ejaculations, which they some- 
times continued till they were quite hoarse, and out of breath, with the 
exertion. This noisy mode of expressing their satisfaction was accompanied 
by a jumping which continued for a minute or more, according to the degree 
of the passion which excited it, and the bodily powers of the person who 
exercised it, the old man being rather too infirm, but still doing his utmost, 
to go through the performance. 
After some time passed on deck, during which a few skins and ivory knives 
were bought from them, they were taken down into the cabin. The younger 
ones received the proposal to descend somewhat reluctantly, till they saw 
that their old companion was willing to shew them the example, and they then 
followed without fear. We had soon occasion to remark that they were much 
better behaved people than the Esquimaux who had visited our ships in 1818, 
on the north-eastern coast of Baffin’s Bay. Although we were much at a loss 
for an interpreter, we had no great difficulty in making the old man under- 
stand, by shewing him an engraved portrait of an Esquimaux, that Lieutenant 
Beechey was desirous of making a similar drawing of him. He was accord- 
ingly placed on a stool near the fire, and sat for more than an hour with very 
tolerable composure and steadiness, considering that a barter for their clothes, 
spears, and whalebone, was going on at the same time near him. He was, 
indeed, kept quiet by the presents which were given him from time to time; 
and when this failed, and he became impatient to move, I endeavoured to 
remind him that we wished him to keep his position, by placing my hands 
before me, holding up my head, and assuming a grave and demure look. 
We now found that the old gentleman was a mimic, as well as a very good- 
natured and obliging man ; for, whenever I did this, he always imitated me 
in such a manner as to create considerable diversion among his own people, 
as well as ours, and then very quietly kept his seat. While he was sitting 
for his picture, the other three stood behind him, bartering their commodities 
with great honesty, but in a manner which shewed them to be no strangers 
to traffic. If, for instance, a knife was offered for any article, they would 
hesitate for a short time, till they saw we were determined to give no higher 
price, and then at once consented to the exchange. In this case, as well as 
when any thing was presented to them, they immediately licked it twice with 
their tongues, after which they seemed to consider the bargain satisfactorily 
