1830.] Newfoundland Adventures. 651 



stinately refused to proceed, and finally returned with the escort. She 

 will explain nothing further than that she is afraid her tribe would 

 kill her ! 



" The admiral's opinion now is, that the hereditary antipathy of the 

 Esquimaux to the European settlers is such, that they forbid any inter- 

 course with them under pain of death. If this be the case, our labour 

 is fruitless." ******* ** 



It was in autumn, two years after the date of this letter, that I had an 

 opportunity of again visiting Newfoundland. A Jersey trader brought 

 me to St. John's, and a coaster carried me thence to Toulinguet, where 

 I had some business to transact. I found that my friend English had 

 left this parish, and had been appointed to one in New Brunswick. 

 Here I saw old Simon as active and loquacious as ever, and Sebastian, 

 now grown a fine stout lad and a daring fowler. The first thing his 

 grandfather showed me was Cabot's skin still lying on Sebastian's bed. 

 It had been most carefully preserved, and retained the beautiful black 

 hair, whose glossy curl I had so much admired years ago. Two more 

 Esquimaux bows and quivers decorated the walls of their hut, which, on 

 my inquiry, the young fellow told me, in rather a chuff way, he had got 

 last winter from a native party off Strait Coast. 



" Did they give them to you?" said I. 



" No," replied the boy carelessly as he left the room, " I got them in 

 exchange for powder and shot." 



Five years had made a surprising difference in his stature, look, and 

 voice. He spoke little, but most energetically. His eyes were dark, and 

 deep-set beneath heavy over-hanging brows ; and these were surmounted 

 by a beetling forehead. His head was remarkably broad between the 

 ears, which stood boldly forward, full in view, as if to catch the slightest 

 sound that was uttered in his presence. His whole aspect was stern 

 and ardent, and left an impression on me that I did not easily forget. 

 Its expression was of that cast which indicated conscious power and 

 readiness to compare, determine, and speedily execute whatever was re- 

 solved on. There was also a contempt of trifling, and a capability of 

 remembering injuries, too strongly marked to be overlooked or mistaken. 

 His grandfather assured me that it took up the greatest part of his time 

 to watch over him, to keep him out of danger, and restrain his im- 

 petuosity. I had remarked three deep scars on the boy's forehead, and 

 one on his cheek : these Simon told me he had received from the gan- 

 nets of Magdalen Islands last year in lightening the rocks of a boat- 

 load of eggs. " 'Twas well I was there/' said he, " for the blood blinded 

 him, and he missed his footing and fell into the sea about twenty feet 

 below. The spiteful screaming things still darted at him in the water, 

 as if they 'd pick his bones j and I had to shoot some of them before 

 they 'd let me haul him out. He 's going again in the Grampus in a 

 day or two, and I must go with him too, or they won't leave an eye 

 in his head." 



" 'Tis fortunate," said I, " that our courses lie together. I have par- 

 ticular business at Prince Edward's Island, and will be glad to accom- 

 pany you, and see your method of fowling on the rocks." 



Simon cheerfully engaged to take me by his usual northern route, 

 and we appointed the next morning but one (wind and weather per- 

 mitting) for the voyage. Accordingly, having despatched my business 

 in the interim, I once more took my seat at break of day beneath the 



40'2 



