NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 131 



most bitter and vociferous wailing or mourn- 

 ing. 



The usual means to expel the disease, what- 

 ever it might be, had been employed in vain. 

 Several skins, stretched over hoops varying in 

 size, had been broken by furious beating, accom- 

 panied with fantastic gesticulations and almost 

 unearthly sounds, if possible, to cure the patient. 

 But all to no purpose. They now found that 

 death was approaching; and since every effort 

 of theirs had not benefited her, they pronounced 

 her incurable, and proceeded at once to termi- 

 nate her existence. She was not permitted to 

 die wholly from the natural effects of the dis- 

 ease ; but a small cord was placed round her 

 neck, and gradually drawn closer and closer by 

 those who stood on each side of her, until life 

 became extinct. During the last scene, she gave 

 various presents to her relatives and friends. 

 She died with singular indifference, and without 

 a groan. 



Whether all the sick, who, they supposed, 

 would not recover, were thus put to death, as in 

 the foregoing instance, may be a question.- Yet, 

 in so far as could be ascertained from observation 

 and from conversation with the natives, it is the 

 opinion of those who lived with them for several 

 months that this was generally the case. 



