ns. The tribe thus discovered consisted of only
three families, residing in their summer huts at Cape York. As no
steamer had ever before found its way to these seas, it was
interesting to watch the impression upon the singular beings now
visited, when they descended into the engine-room. The large furnaces
and machinery astonished them. The latter, on being put in motion,
made them take to their heels with fright, and they ran out of the
engine-room on deck as fast as they could.

Kallihirua on board the "Assistance"

It was after this first interview that the report was raised of the
massacre of two ships' crews in 1846. Captain Ommanney, accompanied by
Captain Penny, with his interpreter, immediately returned to Cape
York, and had a long interview with the natives. They most
emphatically denied the whole statement, adding, that no ship had
ever been on their coasts except the "North Star," and passing
whalers. Then it was, that Kallihirua consented to show Captain
Ommanney where the "North Star" had wintered, and to join the ship,
for the purpose of being useful as an interpreter, in the event of
their meeting with any natives during the search for the missing
expedition under Sir John Franklin. Parting (for awhile, as he
supposed) with his immediate relatives, and with the only people whom
he knew on earth, he threw himself into the hands of strangers in
perfect confidence. Having arrived on board the "Assistance," he put
off his rough native costume, submitted to the process of a good
washing, and, being soon clad in ordinary European clothing, which was
cheerfully contributed by the officers, the young Esquimaux with much
intelligence performed the duty of pilot to the place where the "North
Star" had wintered.

The Esquimaux Graves

On entering Wolstenholme Sound[3], Kallihirua, or, as he was
familiarly called, KALLI, directed Captain Ommanney and the officers
to the late winter-station of his tribe, the spot having been
abandoned in consequence of some epidemic, probably influenza, which
had carried off several persons. On entering the huts, a most
distressing sight presented itself. A heap of dead bodies, about
seven, in a state of decomposition, lay, one over the other, clad in
their skin-clothing, as if suddenly cut off by the hand of death. The
survivors, from fear of infection, had left the remains of their
relatives unburied. It was an affecting scene in such a remote and
desolate reg