328 Dr King on the 
the fathers. Toolemak, an angetkook, or priest, having lost 
all his own children, was found by Sir Edward Parry to have 
adopted some of the finest male children of the tribe. For the 
same reason, a widow with a family never pines for want of a 
husband. It is on record, that a happy widow with five children 
was received with open arms as the partner of another, almost 
immediately after the death of her husband.* If she has no 
family by this second husband, and she has no partiality for 
him, as soon as her sons are grown up, and become seal-catch- 
ers, she can desert her old benefactor; for by law she has ab- 
solute power over her sons’ labour. It is evident, therefore, 
in Esquimaux land, that the widows with families have it all 
their own way. 
And now let us consider the position of the childless widow, 
or, what is the same thing with the Esquimaux, the widow with 
infants of that tender age that they are not likely to be soon 
turned to account, as suppliers of provision. Poor creature! 
her fate is a hard one. While bewailing the loss of her hus- 
band to distraction, his effects are clandestinely purloined by 
her guests, who, at the same time, bear the compliments of 
condolence on their tongue. The bereaved widow has no re- 
source, but to endeavour to ingratiate herself with him who has 
been her greatest plunderer. He will keep her a while, and, 
when he is tired of her, she must try to insinuate herself into 
the favour of another. But at last she and her children are 
left to their hard fate. A little longer, perhaps, they protract 
life by eating shell fish, and sea-grass; but finally they die 
from starvation. In Captain Parry’s narrative of his second 
voyage, a very affecting case of this kind is recorded. 
Self-preservation has evidently given rise to this custom ; 
for the most able hunters at certain seasons have great dif- 
ficulty in providing for themselves; and since neglect must 
fall heavily upon some, it is natural to suppose that a man will 
first cling to his wife and children. But I have no excuse for 
the cruel system of robbery which custom entails upon the 
weak and the friendless. 
Sen a a a a eee 
* Ross, 515, 
