b SKETCH OF THE BOOTHIANS. 



same custom of adoption as in that tribe, with the same conse- 

 quences and practices, on both sides. If there was aught of 

 difference, in any respect, it did not fall under our cognizance. 



I do not know that there were any differences between the 

 state of the connubial relations and practices in this place and at 

 Igloolik, or wherever else these have been remarked ; while 

 there has been a little obscurity in some of the accounts of this 

 subject. It is my business, at any rate, to relate what came to 

 our knowledge. 



A state of celibacy is unknown : the mere supposition of such 

 a condition is treated as a chimera, nor did they know how to 

 believe that any of us could be without wives. Every woman 

 therefore finds a husband, as every man procures a wife : but, 

 often, inevitably, under a system of polygamy ; since the sexes 

 cannot always be equal in numbers. The rule also appears to 

 be, if it be not rather a natural arrangement than a law, that the 

 most expert hunters obtain the superfluous women, as best able 

 to maintain them ; though we did not know of any instance of 

 a man possessing more than two wives ; of which the first, or 

 eldest, is the senior in command and respect. In the same way, 

 it is the strongest or most useful woman who most readily obtains 

 a second husband : while, under either mode of this polygamy, 

 or, possibly, only bigamy, the most perfect harmony seems 

 always to subsist among the parties. If, never witnessing any 

 angry word between husband and wife, and seeing each for ever 

 treating the other with indulgence and frankness, we were 

 willing to conclude that these people had attained that perfection 



