OF THE POLAR SEA. 165 
side. They usually strip defenceless persons 
whom they meet of all their garments, but 
particularly of those which have buttons and 
leave them to travel home in that state, however 
severe the weather. If resistance be expected, 
they not unfrequently murder before they attempt 
torob. The traders, when they travel, invariably 
keep some men on guard to prevent surprise, 
whilst the others sleep; and often practise the 
Stratagem of lighting a fire at sunset, which they 
leave burning, and move on after dark to a more 
distant encampment—yet. these precautions do 
‘not always baffle the depredators. Suck is the ~ 
description of men whom the traders of this river 
have constantly to guard against. It must require 
a long residence among them, and much expe- 
rience of their manners, to overcome the painful 
apprehensions their hostility and threats are cal- 
culated to excite. Through fear of having their 
provision an lies entirely cut off, the traders 
are often obliged to overlook the grossest offences, 
even murder, though the delinquents present 
themselves with unblushing effrontery almost im- 
mediately after the fact, and perhaps boast of 
having committed it. They do not, on detection, 
consider themselves under any obligation to de- 
liver up what they have stolen without receiving 
an equivalent, : 2 
