LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
515 
which she offers,) never condescended to show themselves 
again, and the party soon after took their departure for the 
ship. 
They had not been there many hours, when the Esquimaux 
were seen approaching, the two wives bringing up the rear; 
but, whatever ill humour they might have evinced in the morn¬ 
ing, it had now wholly subsided, and they came on board with 
laughing countenances, and greeted their former acquaintance, 
with every token of satisfaction. Some refreshment was given 
them, and it was agreed, that they should go a-fishing on the 
morrow ; Commander Ross, and Mr. McDiarmid to accompany 
them. After stopping a few hours, during which, their eyes 
were in every direction, to see what they could pilfer, they 
left the ship, for the express purpose of taking a senifc, pro¬ 
mising to be punctual to their appointment on the following 
day. 
In anticipation of this fishing expedition, one of the crew 
was despatched to the lakes, to bring away the fishing-rods ; 
and early on the following morning, Commander Ross and 
Mr. Mc’Diarmid were on the anxious look-out for their guides, 
but, at 12. o’clock, not one had made his appearance. At 
two, Commander Ross set out to the huts in search of them, 
but, on his arrival there, he found that they were all gone. In 
the evening, the man returned, who had been sent to the lakes, 
and he reported, that he had met the tribe, travelling in the 
direction of Nichilli , which was directly contrary, to where the 
fishing place was situate. It was some time, before the cause 
of this conduct could be discovered, but it was at last ascer¬ 
tained, that at their visit to the ship, oji the preceding day, 
they had stolen several trifling articles ; and the suspicion was 
now entertained, that they were afraid to keep their appoint¬ 
ment, from the fear, that the theft had been discovered, and 
they were then ignorant as to what might be the consequences 
to them; or the extent of the punishment, that would be inflicted 
upon them. 
During one of the shooting excursions, which the men took 
on the 7th, a fox’s burrow was discovered by Abernethy, who 
