When we got on board the boat, we found that all the women had taken refuge in it, thinking that they had seen Indians onshore.  The men therefore immediately landed, to take care of the forsaken tents.  This was no doubt a false alarm, for we never discovered any traces of them during our stay.  To the south of Hopedale the Indians and Esquimaux sometimes meet, but as the Hopedale Esquimaux seek to cultivate their friendship, quarrels and bloodshed seldom occur.  In Ungava, however, though they often exchange tokens of friendship, they are apt to give way to their national jealousies; and provocations being aggravated, their meetings now and then terminate in murder.  The Esquimaux are much afraid of the Indians, who are a more nimble and active race.

12th.  Having finished reconnoitring the neighbourhood, and gathered all the information concerning it, which our means would permit, and likewise fixed upon the green slope or terrace above described, as the most suitable place for a settlement, on account of the abundance of wood in its neighbourhood, we made preparations to proceed.  Uttakiyok, who had spent more than one winter in the Ungava country, assured us, that there was here an ample supply of provisions, both in summer and winter, which Jonathan also credited, from his own observation.  The former likewise expressed himself convinced, that if we would form a settlement here, many Esquimaux would come to us from all parts.  We ourselves were satisfied that Europeans might find the means of existence in this place, as it was accessible for ships, and had wood and water in plenty.  As for Esquimaux, there appeared no want of those things upon which they live, the sea abounding with whitefish, seals, sea fowl, &c. and the land with reindeer, hares, bears, and other animals.  The people from Killinek declared their intention of removing hither, if we would come and dwell among them, and are even now in the habit of visiting this place every summer.  Our own company even expressed a wish to spend the winter here.

This being the day before our departure, we erected, on two opposite hills, at the entrance of the bay, high marks of stones, and on the declivity of a hill to the right, a board, into which we had cut an inscription, thus—­

[Illustration:  In front,
Georgius III.  Rex. 
Societas
Unitatis Fratrum.]

[Illustration:  At the back. 
Benjamin Kohlmeister,
George Kmoch,
Aug. 7, 1811. 
The day of our arrival.]

We raised and fixed this tablet with some solemnity, in presence of Uttakiyok and his family, as representatives of the people of Ungava, and of our own company, and hoisted the British flag alongside of it, while another was displayed at the same time in the boat.  We explained the cause of this ceremony to all present, to the following effect—­

“That we, on this day, raised this sign, in the name of our king, George III. the great monarch of all these territories, in testimony of our having explored it, and made choice of it, in case we or our Brethren should think proper to settle here.  To which we called upon all present to bear witness.”  We then proclaimed the name of the Kangertlualuksoak to be henceforth George River, upon which every man fired his piece three times, the vollies being answered from the boat.