198 THE WORLD OF ICE.

“Yes, sir, it is.”

“Then put in an extra junk of pork, and fill it up
to the brim.”

While the cook went below to obey this order, the
captain and half of the crew descended to the ice,
and advanced unarmed to meet the natives, The
remainder of the men stayed behind to guard the
ship, and be ready to afford suecour if necd be. But
the precaution was unnecessary, for the Esquimaux
met the sailors inthe most frank and confiding
manner, and seemed quite to understand Captain Guy
when he drew a line round the ship, and stationed
sentries along it to prevent them from crossing. The
natives had their dogs and sledges with them, and the
former they picketed to the ice, while a few of their
number, and the woman, whose name was Aninga, were
taken on board and hospitably entertained.

It was exceedingly interesting and amusing to ob-
serve the feelings of amazement and delight expressed
by those barbarous but good-humouved and intelligent
people at everything they saw. While food was’ pre-
paring for them, they were taken round the ship, on
deck and below, and the sailors explained, in panto-
mime, the uses of everything. They laughed, and
exclaimed, and shouted, and even roared with delight,
and touched everything with their fingers, just as
monkeys are wont to do when let loose. Captain
Guy took Aninga and her tall husband, Awatok, to
the cabin, where, through the medium of Meetuck, he
explained the object of their expedition, and ques-