Dr King on the Physical Characters of the Esquimaux. 297 



south, including the occupation, as a summer residence, of 

 the Island of Newfoundland. The Abbe Raynal expressly 

 states, ** that no savages have ever been seen on that island, 

 except some Esquimaux from the continent in the hunting 

 season," an opinion I had formed, before this passage in the 

 Abbe Raynal's work came under my observation, from a care- 

 ful study of the narratives of the early travellers in search of a 

 north-west passage. " Sebastian Cabot," writes Purchas, 

 "brought to England three savages taken in Newfoundland,* 

 who were clothed in beast's skins, and did eat raw flesh, 

 and, in their demeanour, like to brute beasts, whom the king 

 kept a time after ; of the which, upon two years after, 1 saw 

 two apparelled, after the manner of Englishmen, in West- 

 minster Palace, which, at that time, I could not discover from 

 Englishmen till I learned what they were ; but, as for speech, 

 I heard none of them utter one word.'"* The account given by 

 Whitbourne of the natives of Newfoundland.t is in accordance 

 with the known habits of the Esquimaux, but has no refer- 

 ence to the Red man of America. Whitbourne has thus ex- 

 pressed himself : — " The naturall inhabitants of the country, 

 as they are but few in number, so are they something rude 

 and savage ; having neither knowledge of God, nor living 

 under any kind of civill government. They live altogether 

 in the north and west part of the country, which is seldom 

 frequented by the English. But the French and Biscay- 

 ans, who resort thither for the whale-fishery, and also for 

 the cod fish, report them to be an ingenious and tractable 

 people (being w^ell used). They are ready to assist them, with 

 great labour and patience, in the killing, cutting, and boyling 

 of whale, and making the traine oyle, without expectation 

 of other reward, than a little bread or some such small hire." 

 Lieutenant Roger Curtis, in a paper addressed to the Royal 

 Society, t informs us that the Esquimaux were settled at diffe- 

 rent places upon the sea-coast down to the river St John's ; 

 but for many years past, whether owing to the quarrels with 

 the mountaineers, or the encroachments of the Europeans, 

 they have taken up their residence far to the north. O'Reilly 



♦ 1497. 1 1612. X 1773. 



VOL. XXXVI. liO. LXXII. APRIL 1844. U 



