THE ESQUIMAUX. 37 



our former voyage being myself a novice in 1824. 

 the comitry^ I was not aware^ in the excitation August, 

 of the moment, of the noise we all made, but 

 being now well acquainted with the vociferous 

 people who were visiting us^ I quietly witnessed 

 the present interview, and am convinced that it 

 is not possible to give any idea of the raving and 

 screaming which prevailed for a couple of hours. 

 Some of the natives, however, were not so 

 violently overpowered by their joyous sensa- 

 tions, as to forget that they came to improve 

 their fortunes ; and one most expert fellow 

 succeeded pretty well in picking pockets, an 

 occupation from which frequent detection did 

 not discourage him. Amongst other things 

 he robbed me of my handkerchief, and was 

 particularly amused when I discovered his 

 roguery, for which I thought a box on the 

 ear would have acted as a warning, but I af- 

 terwards found that he had crept on board, 

 and was carrying oif a bag of seaman's 

 clothes ; a grand prize, for the retention of 

 which he made a most violent stand, until 

 I succeeded in tumbling him over the side. 

 The generality of the others behaved pretty 

 well, and traded fairly, each Avoman pro- 

 ducing her stores from a neat little skin bag, 

 which was distinguished by our men by 

 the name of a *^ ridicule," than which I con- 



