HOSTILITY BETWEEN ESQUIMAUX AND INDIANS. 357 



displayed to me, with a request that I would blow on 

 it. As it was unclean and festering, I opened it with 

 the lancet, washed and dressed it, and dismissed my 

 patient with assurance of the speedy improvement of 

 the hurt. This did not suffice however ; the wounded 

 limb was again extended, and I was entreated to blow 

 upon it, which as it was considered so indispensable 

 to recovery I of course proceeded to do : the man 

 immediately fetched an arrow, which he tendered for 

 my acceptance in return for my friendly offices, and 

 seemed to doubt the efficacy of the charm he had 

 insisted upon my performing when I gently refused 

 his gift. 



From causes not clearly explained, our Indian 

 hunters were in perpetual fear of om- Esquimaux 

 friends. No doubt the hostility long existing between 

 the races influenced them greatly, and I rather think 

 they had been truly informed respecting the collision 

 which had lately occurred near Point Separation, and 

 of which some Indians had told us on our descent of 

 the Mackenzie : but, as we subsequently learnt, with 

 details and exaggeration which had completely per- 

 verted the aspect of the affair : if this was the case, 

 I do not wonder at their alarm lest the treacherous 

 conduct of their own people should be visited upon 

 them. From whatever cause it occurred, the fact is 



