M'Keevor's Voyage to Hudson's Bay. 39 



me sternly in the face, and began to ridicule me, by asking 

 if I wanted an Esquimeaux wife ? and paid not the smallest 

 regard to the shrieks and agony of the poor wretch who was 

 twining round their spears like an eel ! Indeed, after receiv- 

 ing much abusive language from them on the occasion, I was 

 at length obliged to desire that they would be more expedi- 

 tious in dispatching their victim out of her misery, otherwise I 

 should be obliged, out of pity, to assist in the friendly office of 

 putting an end to the existence of a fellow-creature who was- 

 so cruelly wounded. On this request being made, one of the 

 Indians hastily drew his spear from the place where it was 

 first lodged, and pierced it through her breast near the heart. 

 The love of life, however, even in this most miserable state, 

 was so predominant, that though this might justly be called 

 the most merciful act that could be done for the poor crea- 

 ture, it seemed to be unwelcome, for, though much exhausted 

 by pain and loss of blood, she made several efforts to ward 

 off the friendly blow. My situation, and the horror of my 

 mind at beholding this scene of butchery, cannot easily be 

 conceived, much less described : though I summed up all the 

 fortitude I was master of on the occasion, it was with difficulty 

 I could refrain from tears; and I am confident that my features 

 must have feelingly expressed how sincerely I was affected 

 at the barbarous scene I then witnessed. Even at this mo- 

 ment I cannot reflect on the transactions of that horrid day 

 without shedding tears." 



Notwithstanding the shocking persecutions to which these 

 poor creatures are exposed, there are no people in all the vast 

 variety of climate, of soil, and of civilization, so attached to 

 the land of their birth ; affording a striking proof that this 

 strong passion is by no means commensurate with the phy- 

 sical advantages of the soil. The contrary, indeed, appears 

 to be the fact ; the wretchedness of their condition, and 

 dreadful severity of their climate, appearing rather to mul- 

 tiply and strengthen those ties of attachment. The few* who 

 have been brought or rather forced away to this country, 

 though treated in the most kind and tender manner, and 

 provided with every comfort, have still sighed after their 

 floating mountains, their beloved seals and smoky wigwams. 

 No distance, however remote, nor lapse of time, however 



* Lies premiers individues de cette nation qu'on ait vus en Europe, y 

 avoient etc amene par le navigateur Forbisher, qui presenta, en 1577, trois 

 Esquimeaux a la reine Elizabeth : on les promena sur de petits ohevaux de 

 corse, & ils servirent pendant quelque jours d'amusement a la populace, tou- 

 jonrs avide de spectacle insenses. De Paw tur les Americans, -vol. i. p. 258. 



