276 ESQUIMAUX ANIMOSITY. 



pulled out the interior arrangements, possibly, like 

 heathen priests, to consult their auguries, and cutting 

 the cheek-bones out, brought them up to the fort, 

 and offered to present them as a trophy to Mr. Pruden, 

 then in charge of the post. 



Since that period no affray had occurred between 

 the hostile parties, nor had Esquimaux been seen in 

 the Peel ; but the Rat Indians were informed by a 

 party of Esquimaux, who live somewhere near the 

 Colville, and are friendly, that those near the mouth 

 of the Mackenzie declared that they must have five 

 hves of Loucheux for that of the chief who was killed. 



Mr. Peers, one of the Company's officers, made an 

 endeavour, not long before the period of our visit, to 

 concihate the Esquimaux. He sent various presents 

 to them with messages of friendly import ; but they 

 replied that he desired only to entrap them, and that 

 the whites supplied the Loucheux with guns for their 

 destruction. 



These excellent and praiseworthy endeavours were 

 thus rendered abortive ; nor would it be an easy task 

 to reconcile the races, since even the Loucheux, when 

 offered rewards to abstain from hostilities, would not 

 accept them, saying, that they should only break faith 

 with their friends the whites, as they could not restrain 

 themselves at sight of an Esquimaux, but must have at 



