278 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1820. concluded. The youngest of the party very modestly kept behind the others, 
and, before he was obseiwed to have done so, missed several presents, which 
his less diffident, though not importunate, companions had received. As the 
night closed in, they became desirous to depart, and they left us before dark, 
highly delighted with their visit. As I had purchased one of their canoes, 
a boat was sent to land its late owner, as only one person can sit in each. 
Mr. Palmer informed me, that, in going on shore, the canoes could beat our 
boat very much in rowing, whenever the Esquimaux chose to exert themselves, 
but they kept close to her the whole way. During the time that they were 
on board, we had observed in them a great aptness for imitating certain of 
our words ; and, while going on shore, they took a particular liking to the 
expression of “ Hurra, give way !” which they heard Mr, Palmer use to the 
boat’s crew, and which they frequently imitated, to the great amusement of 
all parties. 
Being desirous of seeing more of these people, of whom the first interview 
had given us a favourable impression, I determined to lie-to during the night, 
and to take the ships higher up the inlet on the following day. Mr. Bell came 
on board from the Friendship in the evening, and, after repeating his offers 
of assistance, communicated to us many events of a public nature, which 
could not but be extremely interesting to us, after a complete seclusion from 
the rest of the world for a period of seventeen months. The tem- 
perature of the sea at the bottom, in one hundred and ninety-five fathoms, 
was 31|°, and at the depth of seventy-six fathoms 31°.3; that of the surface 
water being 33°, and of the atmosphere 32°. 
I'huis. 7. The calm weather which prevailed during the night, was succeeded by a 
breeze from the westward on the morning of the 7th, of which advantage was 
immediately taken to beat up the inlet, which proved a very extensive one, and 
of which a particular chart is annexed. The sun did not break through the 
clouds till half-after seven, when the expected eclipse was found to have com- 
menced, and I determined to land, with Captain Sabine, upon the nearest island, 
in order to observe the end of it, as well as to obtain the other usual observa- 
tions, together with angles for the survey. At ten minutes past eight the sun 
, became again obscured, and was not visible till twenty minutes past nine, 
when we had landed, and were prepared with our glasses, but were disap- 
pointed, in finding that the eclipse was over. 
Soon after we had landed, the old Esquimaux and one of his younger com- 
panions, paddled over from the main land, and joined us upon the island. 
