HONORS TO THE DEAD. 579 



Esquimaux have found the graves of Franklin's compan- 

 ions they have dug them open and robbed the dead, leav- 

 ing them exposed to the ravages of wild beasts. On 

 Todd's Island the remains of five men were not buried, 

 but after the savages had robbed them of every article 

 that could be turned to any account for their use, their 

 dogs were allowed to finish the disgusting work. 



" Wherever I found that Sir John Franklin's compan- 

 ions had died I erected monuments, then fired salutes and 

 waved the Star-Spangled Banner over them in memory 

 and respect of the great and true discoverers of the North- 

 west passage. 



" I could have gathered great quantities a very great 

 variety of relics of Sir John Franklin's expedition, for 

 they are now possessed by natives all over the Arctic 

 regions that I visited or heard of, from Pond's Bay to 

 Mackenzie River. As it was, I had to be satisfied with 

 taking upon our sledges about 125 pounds' total weight of 

 relics from natives about King William's Land." 



