OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 187 



which he treated us, I had no sooner ffone into the gun-room to drink tea, ,l^''^^.' 



March 



than Toolooak, who was now alone in the cabin, took it into his head to play \-*-y-w 

 my servant a trick ; for which purpose he boldly rang the bell, and when the 

 sen-ant came, laughed at him very heartily for his pains. After levying con- 

 tributions by way of supper on all the officers' messes, he wrapped himself up 

 in all the skins we could muster, and slept soundly on my lockers till the 

 morning, when after a hearty breakfast he took his departure, well pleased 

 with his entertainment, but still more with the various presents he took with 

 him. 



On the I2th, Okotook came, according to an appointment previously made, Tues. 12. 

 with a sledge and six dogs to give me a ride to the huts, bringing Avith him his 

 son Sioutkuk who, with ourselves, made up a weight of near four hundred 

 pounds upon the sledge. After being upset twice and stopping at least ten 

 times, notwithstanding the incessant bullying of Okotook, and as it seemed 

 to me, more bodily labour on his part to steer us clear of accidents, than if 

 he had walked the whole way, we at length arrived at the huts, a distance 

 of two miles, in five-and-twenty minutes. Of this equipment, and their usual 

 modes of travelling, I shall have occasion to speak more fully in another 

 place. 



I found that several fresh alterations had been made in the huts since my 

 last visit, all however of the same kind, and having in view the same object 

 as those last described. In these alterations they seem to consult the con- 

 venience of the moment, and to do it all by such unanimous consent that no 

 consultation or diiference of opinion ever appears to exist about it. So much 

 snow-drift had now collected about the huts, that their external appearance 

 was as much altered as that of the interior, and it was difficult to trace any re- 

 semblance to the original village, or even to perceive its present limits. The 

 snow was now as high as the roofs on every side, so that one might walk com- 

 pletely over them, and, but for the round plates of ice composing the window's, 

 without suspecting the little hive of human beings that was comfortably esta- 

 blished below. This however was not always done with impunity, when the 

 thawing within had too much weakened the roofs, in which case a leg some- 

 times made its way through, and discovered in what parts repairs were 

 becoming necessary. The natives were at this time extremely well furnished 

 with seals' flesh for food, and oil for their lamps, and all they would accept 

 from us (except meat which we could not afford to give) was water, and this 



2 B 8 



