OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 163 



• We dined in the huts, and the Esquimaux gladly partook of our biscuit and ^'^2-- 



February 



meat, and even of a little wine which however they did not relish. We 



returned on board about sunset, much gratified with the interesting day we 

 had passed ; having laid the foundation of that perfect confidence and 

 good understanding which, with little or no interruption, afterwards subsisted 

 between us and our new acquaintance. 



On the morning of the 3d, a number of these people were observed to set Sun. 3. 

 ofFover the ice to the south-west to bring, as we conjectured, either some more 

 of their people or of their property from their last place of abode. On walk- 

 ing out to the huts after divine service, however, we found they had been 

 seal-catching and had succeeded in taking four. The very small quantity 

 of food which they had in their huts at first coming, consisting of a little veni- 

 son and the flesh and blubber of the whale and seal, induced us to suppose 

 they had left some of their provision behind, and that they would return for 

 it as occasion demanded. But we now found that, even at this rigorous sea- 

 son, they were entirely dependent in this way on their daily exertions ; and 

 that they had only removed into their present quarters on account of the 

 failure of their summer's store, and of the greater facility of obtaining seals 

 at Winter Island than where the sea was more closely and continually frozen. 



On the 4th a number of Esquimaux came to the ships and we took the op- Mon. 4. 

 portunity of getting them to go through the process of building a snow-hut 

 for our amusement and information. From the quickness with which they 

 completed this, our surprise at the sudden appearance of their village ceased ; 

 as we now saw that two or three hours would be more than sufficient to 

 have completed the whole establishment just as we at first found it. They 

 were then taken on board and derived great amusement from our organ, and 

 from any thing in the shape of music, singing, or dancing, of all which they 

 are remarkably fond. Nor can I here omit a striking instance of the honesty 

 of these people which occurred to-day. Some of the gentlemen of the Hecla 

 had purchased two of their dogs, which had the preceding evening made their 

 escape and returned to the huts. After the departure of the Esquimaux to- 

 day, we were surprised to find that they had left two dogs carefully tied up on 

 board the Fury, which on inquiry proved to be the animals in question, and 

 which had been thus faithfully restored to their rightful owners. 



On the 5th a number of the natives came on board according to promise Tues. 5. 

 to rebuild the hut in a more substantial manner, and to put a plate of ice into 

 the roof as a window, which they did with great quickness as well as care, 



Y 2 



