﻿352 ESKIMOS. 



head of a small community had a right to the 

 point of land on which his winter house or cluster 

 of houses stood, and to the hunting grounds in its 

 vicinity. We had also evidence, at various places 

 on the coast, of the unwillingness of these people 

 to appropriate the goods of their absent neighbours, 

 even when we, not knowing the proper owner, 

 tempted them by the offer of a price much beyond 

 the value of the article in their eyes. The answer 

 on such occasions was, " That belongs to a man 

 who is not here." We also saw on the coast 

 stages on which provisions, furs, lamps, and other 

 articles were placed, while the owners had gone 

 inland ; and hoards of blubber, secured from animals 

 by stone walls, but without any attempt at con- 

 cealment. " Tiglikpok" (he is a thief) is a term 

 of reproach among themselves ; but they steal 

 without scruple from strangers, and with a dex- 

 terity which training and long practice alone can 

 give. Nor did they appear ashamed when de- 

 tected, or blush at our reproofs, I believe that on 

 this point their code is Spartan, and that to steal 

 boldly and adroitly from a stranger is an act of 

 heroism. 



In personal courage, the Eskimos are superior to 

 the Chepewyans, Crees, or any other Indian nation 

 with whom I am acquainted. The Hare Indians 

 and Dog-ribs dread them, and even when much 



