HANS'S STORY. 233 



to my affairs, I strongly suspect, however, that certain 

 commands were laid upon him by the partner of his 

 tent and joys ; and, if domestic secrets were not bet- 

 ter kept than are some other kinds, I should probably 

 discover that the journey to Cape York was made for 

 the sole purpose of bringing up from that place the 

 two old people who own Hans for a son-in-law. So 

 even here under the Pole Star the daughters of Eve 

 govern the destinies of men. 



It was the old story of the borrowed horse over 

 again. The journey was long and difficult; the dogs 

 were over-driven and starved; and the party came 

 back to Iteplik with only five dogs remaining of the 

 nine with which they had set out. Four of them had 

 broken down, and were left to die by the way. 



February 2d. 



Ootinah and his wooden-legged companion have left 

 us, promising to return as soon as they have provided 

 for their families. They carried away with them 

 many valuable presents, and if these do not tempt 

 their savage kindred to the ship, nothing will. They 

 will tell the Esquimaux that I want dogs, and I have 

 charged them to circulate the knowledge of the ample 

 returns which I will make to the hunter who will lend 

 or sell to me his team. But alas ! dogs are scarce ; 

 most of the hunters have none to spare, and many of 

 them are wholly destitute. I had not a bribe in the 

 ship large enough to induce either of those who have 

 left me to part with even one of their precious ani- 

 mals. Having discovered this, I could afford to be 

 lavish with mj^ presents, and these poor wanderers on 

 the ice deserts probably left me quite as well off as if 

 they had sold me their entire teams. They plead the 



