JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE THROUGH THE

fhould meet with the Efquimaux, with whom they had formerly made
war, but were now in a flate of peace and amity. He mentioned the
laft Indians whom we had feen in terms of great derifion; defcribing
them as being no better than old women, and as abominable lars;

which coincided with the notion we already entertained of them. —

As we pufhed off, fome of my men difcharged their fowling: pieces,
that were only loaded with powder, at the report of which the
Indians were very much alarmed, as they had not before heard the dif-
charge of fire arms. This circumftance had fuch an effect upon our
guide, that we had reafon to apprehend he would not fulfil his promife.
When, however, he was informed that the noife which he had heard was
a fignal of friendfhip, he was perfuaded to embark in his own fmall
canoe, though he had been offered a feat in ours.

Two of his companions, whom he reprefented as his brothers, followed
us in their canoes; and they amufed us not only with their native fongs,
but with others, in imitation of the Efquimaux; and our new guide was
fo enlivened by them, that the antics he performed, in keeping time to
the finging, alarmed us with continual apprehenfion that his boat
muff upfet: but he was not long content with his confined fituation, and
paddling up along-fide our canoe, requefted us to receive him in it,
though but a fhort time before he had refolutely refufed to accept our
invitation. No fooner had he entered our canoe, than he began to
perform an Efquimaux dance, to our no fall alarm. He was, how-
ever, foon prevailed upon to be more tranquil; when he began to difplay
various indecencies, according to the cuftoms of the Efquimaux, of.

which