. Narrative of the Arctic land expedition to the mouth of the Great Fish River, and along the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in the years 1833, 1834 and 1835 [microform]. Scientific expeditions; Expéditions scientifiques. lOft VISIT TO THEIR TENTS. r but, perceiving the uplifted bands oi their friends, the men threw their spears on the ground. Conceiving that I had now in some degree gained their confidence, though not so entirely but that each held the knife or stiletto- shaped horn grasped in his hand by way of precaution, I suppose, against treachery, I directed JM'Kay and Sinclair to go and e
. Narrative of the Arctic land expedition to the mouth of the Great Fish River, and along the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in the years 1833, 1834 and 1835 [microform]. Scientific expeditions; Expéditions scientifiques. lOft VISIT TO THEIR TENTS. r but, perceiving the uplifted bands oi their friends, the men threw their spears on the ground. Conceiving that I had now in some degree gained their confidence, though not so entirely but that each held the knife or stiletto- shaped horn grasped in his hand by way of precaution, I suppose, against treachery, I directed JM'Kay and Sinclair to go and ex- amine the fall, with a view to run it, if possible, and so avoid the making a portage, fearing least the sight of ourbaggage might tt npt the natives to steal, and so provoke a rupture. They understood at once what we were about; so, to draw off their attention, I went with them to their tents, which were three in number, one single and two joined together, constructed in the usual manner with poles and skins. On our arrival, 1 was struck with the sight of a sort ol circumvallalion of piled stones, precisely similar to those which we had passed, and arranged, as 1 conjectured, to serve for shields against the missiles of their enemies ; as, besides the bow, arrow, and spear, these people make a most effective use of the slin^. Many dogs, of an inferior size, were basking in the sunshine, and thousands of fish lay all around split, and exposed to dry on the rocks, the roes appearing to be particularly prized. These, which were white fish and small trout, had been caught in the eddy below the fall, and kept alive in pools constructed for the purpose. The women and children, about a dozen in number, came out of the tents to see me ; and the men pointed out their own helpmates and offspring with apparent fondness. Beads were soon distri- buted to both the women and children, and in return they gave me some trifles of their own rude manufacture. By this time the steersman report
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectscientificexpeditions, bookyear1836
