Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-06-29
ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

AhCIlC EAPEUIIlON.
An account Of the first parlcy between the British
| Nayigators in the late Arctic Expedition and
the Natives of Bafiin's Bay.
Concluded from orr sast.)
Their knowledge of wood seemed 10 be
limited 10 some heath Of dwarfsh growth,
with stems no thicker than the finger, aud
accordingly they knew not what to think
OF the timber they saw on board. Not
being aware Of its weight, Two or three
OF them, successfully, seized on the spare
topmast, evidently with the view OF car
rying it off; and as soon as they became
familiar with the people around Them, they
showed that desire of possessing what
they admired, which is SO universal among
savages. The only thing they looked Oh
with contempt was little terrier dog,
Judging, no doubt, that it was too small
for drawing sledge; but they shrunk
back, as ii 10 terror, from pig, whose
prickied ears, and ferocious aspect, being
of the Shetland breed, presented some-
what formidable appearance. This ami
NAL happening to grlnt, one of them was
so terrified, that he became from that mo-
nent uneasy, and appeared impatient to
get out of the ship. In carrying his pur-
pose into effect, however, he did not lose
his propensity to thieving, as he seized
aud endeavoured to carry off the smiths
anvil; finding he could not remove it, he
laid hold OF large hammer, threw it on
the ice, and following it himself, delibe-
rateIy set il on his siedge, and made off.
AS this was an article | could not spare,
sent person 10 recover it, who followed
him halooing, and soon got pretty near
him. Seeing that he must be overtaken,
he srttulIy sunk it in the snow, and went
on with the sIedge, by which we were
convinced that he knew he was doing
wrong. The seaman, on finding the ham,
mer, left off the pursuit, and returned,
while he went off, and was seen DO more
that day. Shortly after, another Of them,
who had received present, consisting of
a small hammer, and some nails, left the
ship also, and putting his acquisition upon
the remaining sledge, dragged it away with
him, and disappeared.
Among other amusements afforded to
the officers and men on board, by their
trials on the inexperience Of the natives,
was the effect produced on them by seeing
their faces in a maguifying mirror. Their
grimaces were highly entertaining, while,
like monkies, they looked first into at,
and then behind, in hopes of finding the
monster which was exsggerating their
hideous gestures. A watch was also held
to the ear of one, who supposing it alive,
asked if it was good TO eat. On being
shown the glass Of the skylight and bin
nacle, they touched it, and desired to
know what kind of ice it was. During
this scene, one of them wandered to the
main hatchway, and STOPPING down, saw
the sergeant of marines, whose red coat
produced loud exclamation of wonder,
while his own attitude and figure did not
less excite the surprise Of our tars, who,
for the first time, discovered some unex-
pected peculiarities in the dress Of the
natives.
The three men remaining were now
handed down TO my cabin, and shown the
use of the chairs, which they did not
comprehend, appearing to have no notion
of any other seat than the ground. Be-
ing seated, we attempted to take their
portraits, in which Lieut.. Hopner, Mr..
Skene, Mr.. Busbman, and myself, were
at the same time employed. During this
attempt, fearful it might alarm them, we
amused them with questions, collecting
from them at the same time the informa-
ton we thought it desirable to obtain, and
directing Sacheuse to ask those questions
which the hurried nature of this visit
permitted us to recollect as most essential,
and Of which the result will appear here
after. Our drawings being completed,
and interrogations ended, they began to
be very inquisitive, asking the use OF ev-
cry thing in the cabin: we showed them
paper, books, drawings, and various math-
ematicaI instruments, which produced
only the usual effect of astonishing them
but on being shown the prints IN Cooks
Voyage, of the natives OF Otaheite, they
attempted to grasp them, evidently com.
pretending that they we're the representa-.
lions of human beings. The sight of g
writing desk, bureau, and OF Other
wooden furniture, also excited their as
tonishment, but apparently from the ma
ture of the materials only, as they seem
ed to form no idea Of their uses.
They we're now conducted TO the gun
room, and afterwards round the ship, bu
without appearing to distinguish any thins
particularly, except the wood in her con