TIIE ESQUIMAUX. 
203 
gonian as some of us had been disposed to fancy at 
first. In a word, I was satisfied that they were natives 
of the counti’y; and, calling Petersen from his bunk to 
be my interpreter, I proceeded, unarmed and waving 
my open hands, toward a stout figure who made him¬ 
self conspicuous and seemed to have a greater number 
near him than the rest. He evidently understood the 
movement, for he at once, like a brave fellow, leaped 
down upon the floe and advanced to meet me fully 
half-way. 
He was nearly a head taller than myself, extremely 
powerful and well-built, with swarthy complexion and 
piercing black eyes. His dress was a hooded capote 
or jumper of mixed white and blue fox-pelts, arranged 
with something of fancy, and booted trousers of white 
bear-skin, which at the end of the foot were made to 
terminate with the claws of the animal. 
I soon came to an understanding with this gallant 
diplomatist. Almost as soon as we commenced our 
parley, his companions, probably receiving signals 
from him, flocked in and surrounded us; but we had 
no difficulty in making them know positively that they 
must remain where they were, while Metek went with 
me on board the ship. This gave me the advantage 
of negotiating, with an important hostage. 
Although this was the first time he had ever seen 
a white man, he went with me fearlessly; his com¬ 
panions staying behind on the ice. Hickey took them 
out what he esteemed our greatest delicacies,—slices 
of good wheat bread, and corned pork, with exorbitant 
