NORTHERN OCEAN 179 



In a few seconds the horrible scene commenced ; it was 1771. 

 shocking beyond description ; the poor unhappy victims were J"'^* 

 surprised in the midst of their sleep, and had neither time nor 

 power to make any resistance ; men, women, and children, in 

 all upward of twenty, ran out of their tents stark naked, and 

 endeavoured to make their escape ; but the Indians having 

 possession of all the landside, to no place could they fly for 

 shelter. One alternative only remained, that of jumping into 

 the river ; but, as none of them attempted it, they all fell 

 a sacrifice to Indian barbarity ! 



The shrieks and groans of the poor expiring wretches 

 were truly dreadful ; and my horror 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 that I could disengage myself 

 from her dying grasps. As two Indian men pursued this 

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

 murderers made no reply till they had [154] stuck both their 

 spears through her body, and transfixed her to the ground. 

 They then looked me sternly in the face, and began to ridicule 

 me, by asking if I wanted an Esquimaux 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 receiving much abusive language from them on the 

 occasion, I was at length obliged to desire that they would be 

 more expeditious 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 



