38 Jll'Keevor'n Voyage to Hudson's Bay. 



former of these arising- probably from the large quantity of 

 animal food which they consume, and from their being so 

 constantly in a stooping posture : it did not appear to give 

 them the smallest uneasiness. I have seen the blood trickle 

 down very copiously, without their even appearing- to notice 

 it ; they allowed it quietly to trickle into the mouth, and when 

 it took an irregular course down by the angle of the mouth, 

 they wiped it away with the cuff of their jacket. Hypochon- 

 driaris is a very frequent complaint among them, induced, 

 probably, by the physical circumstances of their situation, and 

 the long confinement which they are compelled to submit to 

 during their long and dreary winter ; yet their general tem- 

 perament does not appear to be a melancholic one. I have 

 often been struck most forcibly with the vivacity of their dis- 

 position, when contrasted with the wretchedness which their 

 external condition displayed. The women are said to bear 

 but few children. I shall conclude these few remarks, by 

 observing, that springs being very rare in their country, the 

 water which they use is principally supplied by melted snow; 

 nevertheless, I have not observed any of those glandular 

 swellings which so frequently occur in the Alpine regions of 

 Europe and Asia. 



That the Esquimeaux Indians were originally Greenland- 

 ers is, I believe, now generally admitted. Indeed, the simi- 

 larity of their dress, canoes, paddles, language, &c. must, I 

 conceive, remove every shadow of doubt on the subject. 

 They principally inhabit the sea-coast, as well for the purpose 

 of being convenient to the sea, as that they may avoid the 

 North- American Indians, there having long subsisted between 

 those two tribes a deadly and implacable hatred. Whenever 

 they come to an engagement, the North-American Indian, 

 being better armed, and of a more muscular frame, is sure to 

 come off victorious. It generally terminates with the mas- 

 sacre of the entire party, men, women, and children. Mr. 

 Hearne, in his interesting voyage to Coppermine River, giving 

 an account of oneof those savage scenes which he had wit- 

 nessed, relates the following very affecting circumstance: 

 " My horror," remarks Mr. Hearne, " was much increased, at 

 seeing a young girl, seemingly about eighteen years of age, 

 killed so near me, that when the first spear was stuck into her 

 side, she fell down at my feet, and twisted round my legs, so 

 that it was with difficulty I could disengage myself from her 

 dying grasp. As two Indian men pursued thjs unfortunate 

 victim, I solicited very hard for her life; but the murderers 

 made no reply till they had stuck both their spears through 

 her body, and transfixed her to the ground. They then looked 



