OF THE POLAR SEA.

173

Augustus that this party, consisting of four menand as many women, had manifested a friendlydisposition. Two of the former were very tall.The man who first came to speak to him, inquiredthe number of canoes that we had with us, ex-pressed himself to be not displeased at our ar-rival, and desired him to caution us not to attemptrunning the rapid, but to make the portage onthe west side of the river. Notwithstanding thisappearance of confidence and satisfaction, itseems they did not consider their situation freefrom danger, as they retreated the first night, toan island somewhat farther down the river, andin the morning they returned and threw downtheir lodges, as if to give notice to any of theirnation that might arrive, that there was an enemyin the neighbourhood. From seeing all theirproperty strewed about, and ten of their dogsleft, we entertained the hope that these poorpeople would return after their first alarm hadsubsided; and therefore I determined on remain-ing until the next day, in the expectation of see-ing them, as I considered the opening of anearly communication a matter of the greatest im-portance in our state of absolute ignorance re-specting the sea-coast. The canoes and cargoeswere carried across the portage, and we encampedon the north side of it. We sent Augustus and