Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/76

Rh by a Greenlander named Aaron, living near Goodhaab, who has received no better education than the generality of his countrymen.

About 2 of this day our consort, the Rescue, hove in sight, and, as the wind was almost gone, boats were sent to help her in. I went in one of the boats, pulling an oar, and, after rowing a distance of some miles, got on board of the schooner. By that time it was calm, and the stillness of evening had approached. Another boat, containing Smith, and the noble, good-hearted Esquimaux pilot, called Lars Kleijt, had joined us, and there we were, in real whaling fashion, towing the new arrival into harbour. Four boats, of beautiful form and finish—two white, with blue gunwales, and two green—were in a line ahead of the Rescue, pulling her along, while the merry voices of our men resounded upon the still waters, and were echoed back from the bold mountains in answering glee. It was a pretty sight as witnessed from the schooner's deck, and one to be often remembered. "Otto," a pure-blooded Esquimaux, stood at the wheel to steer us in, and all hands besides, except the cook, were in the boats.

At midnight we came to an anchor within a couple of stones' throw of Government House.

Both Otto and Lars Kleijt were reckoned such good men and ice pilots that every confidence was placed in them. I asked the latter, "What for"—meaning how much—"you go to West Land (King William's Land) with me?" His answer was, "My mother old man—she get no dinner—my little ones die!"

Captain Walker, of a Scotch whaler, last year tried to get "Lars" to go with him, and offered to make him second mate; but Lars said, "Me no go for all the world. My family!" A noble fellow this Lars. But, poor man! he was then much distressed, owing to the loss of his wife, who had died a few weeks previous to our visit. He himself appeared very sick, and my sincere wish was that so good a