20 SKETCH OF THE BOOTHIAN9. 



tliese people. All their geographical knowledge seemed very 

 accurate ; and, to every river, hill, bay, or lake, there was a name : 

 while it seemed to give them great pleasure to be able to com- 

 municate this information. 



Notwithstanding the vanity which made them prefer whatever 

 was there own, despising, or aifecting to despise, even our guns, in 

 comparison with their own weapons, they were very desirous to know 

 the name and use of every thing; nor had we any difficulty in 

 making them comprehend the latter, in spite of our ignorance of 

 their language. I must, in reality, consider them as an acute- 

 minded people, who would be ready, after a little while, to receive 

 instruction, and probably to adopt some inventions, and customs 

 also, as far as these could be admissible under the circumstances in 

 which they are placed. 



Of their intellectual faculties, beyond these points, it is difficult 

 to form any judgment, so limited is the scope for the exertion of 

 those; nor can I refer to aught more than their dexterity in 

 hunting, and the practice of those useful arts which I shall 

 immediately notice. But they are an energetic and active people; 

 and though given to great excess in eating, like all others of their 

 race, never appearing to give way to pure indolence, even when 

 well fed. On the contrary, they seemed always busied in some- 

 thing, even when at home : as some of us were inclined to think 

 that much of their eating arose rather from the necessity of doing 

 something than from appetite. 



In procuring their food, they seemed also more provident and 

 systematic than the Esquimaux have generally been found. 



