312 Dr King on the 
a_ 
to have been instantly detected. One was a woman who en- 
deavoured to secrete a nine-inch block in her boot, and the 
second was a man who was detected making off with the last 
piece of corned beef belonging to the midshipmen. Upon be- 
ing chased, he practised a feint by dropping a piece of fat and 
kicking snow over it, as if the whole was buried.* The third 
was Ooming, the wife of the latter, who, by being all attention, 
succeeded in picking an officer’s pocket of his handkerchief. 
To weigh with these, both Sir Edward Parry and Captain 
Lyont have mentioned numerous instances of extreme honesty ; 
“ which,” adds Sir Edward Parry, ‘‘ when we consider the 
amazing temptations constantly thrown in their way, in the 
shape of wood and iron, substances esteemed by them as high- 
ly as we do gold or jewels, we know how to appreciate their 
honesty.” 
Before leaving this part of my subject I wish to correct 
some travellers in their assertion, that there is no such thing as 
gratitude amongst this people. It is evident they have been 
led into error, from taking too cursory a view of their peculiar 
customs. It is because they do not apply that virtue in the 
same way we do, that it has been thought to be wanting. 
For instance, it is their custom to express themselves grate- 
ful, only when their tendered favours are accepted. But, in ur- 
gent cases, it is evident they possess the feeling of gratitude 
after our own fashion. A party of Mountain Indians, jealous 
of Sir John Franklin, in consequence of his having traded with 
the Esquimaux, determined to attack him at a particular spot. 
This became known to an old Esquimaux, to whom had been 
given a knife, and some other trifling articles, on the preced- 
ing day; upon which he called aside two young men of his 
tribe, and said to them, “‘ These people have been kind to us, 
and they are few in number ; why should we suffer them to be 
killed? You are active young men, run and tell them to de- 
part instantly.” The young men suggested that the White 
men had guns, and could defend themselves. ‘‘ True,” said 
the old Esquimaux, “ against a small force, but not against so 
large a body of Indians as are now assembled, who are like- 
* Lyon’s Private Journal, p. 174. 
+ Parry’s Second Expedition, p. 163; Lyon’s Private Journal p. 347. 
