UNFRIENDLY ESQUIMAUX. 



241 



shelter. A hut was constructed of boulders, a sail doing duty for roof, and a piece of 

 greased linen part of an old shirt for window-glass. Like Franklin and Richardson, 

 they tried to eke out their supplies by eating tripe de roche, the rock lichen, which, as it 

 most commonly does, produced diarrhoea, and weakened them still more. Esquimaux 

 visitors arrived at the hut, and brought them some limited supplies of blubber, but declined 

 altogether to sell their dogs or help them to Upernavik. Whether or no Hayes was 



MORTON DISCOVERS THE OPEN SEA. 



mistaken, he did not trust much to that innocence and simplicity which are supposed to 

 be the prevailing characteristics of the Esquimaux ; and on one or two occasions he seems 

 to have had very good reason for his doubts. Petersen and Godfrey, on the way, during 

 November, to the brig for succour, overheard some natives plotting their destruction, and im- 

 mediately started from the settlement with their sledge. The Esquimaux followed them with 

 savage cries, but the determined front shown to them seemed to have altered their minds. 

 " I now," says Hayes, " repeated to Kalutunah a request which had been made on 

 previous occasions, viz., that his people should take us upon their sledges and carry us 

 northward to the Oomeaksoak. His answer was the same as it had been hitherto. It was 

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