Intellectual Character of the Esquimauz. 325 
It is not always mere dissimulation on the part of the 
bride ; for sometimes she faints, sometimes elopes among the 
mountains, and not unfrequently cuts off her hair,—an act of 
greater importance to an Hsquimaux woman than that of 
assuming the veil to an European, for she is then doomed to 
perpetual celibacy, whatever her after inclinations may be. If, 
however, she has not gone to the last extreme, the women go 
after her, and drag her by force to her suitor, who, in this 
case, uses to his utmost his persuasive powers, and when no 
kind and courteous behaviour will avail, compulsion is had 
recourse to. If she should then say, with Falstaff, “« Not by 
compulsion,” and she should not speedily get a husband, ne- 
glect is succeeded only by death from starvation.* 
A very amusing anecdote is related by Captain Cartwright, 
of a little love-making on his part. Eketcheak, a native of 
Labrador, married a second wife, a young girl about sixteen 
years of age. “I took,” says Captain Cartwright, “ a fancy 
to her, and desired that he would spare her for me, as I had 
no wife, and in great want of one. He replied, * You are 
welcome to her, but I am afraid she will not please you, as 
her temper is very bad, and she is so idle that she will do no 
work, nor can she use a needle; but my other wife is the best 
tempered creature in the world; an excellent sempstress, is 
industry itself, and above all, she has two children, all of 
whom are much at your service; or, if you please, you shall 
have both, and when I return next year, if you do not like 
either the one or the other, I will take them back again.’ I 
thanked him for his extreme politeness aud generosity, and 
told him that I could not think of depriving him of the good 
wife and two children, but would be contented with the bad 
one. ‘ You shall have her,’ said the native; ‘ but before we 
proceed any farther in this business, I wish you’would men- 
tion it to her relations, and obtain their consent.’ Her father 
being dead, I sent for her mother and two uncles, who readily 
gave their consent, and expressed great pleasure at the honour 
of the alliance. I then communicated my wishes to the young 
lady ; but she no sooner understood what they were, than she 
* Crantz ; Parry. 
