322 A JOURNEY TO THE 



far to the [339] North, as not to have any intercourse with our 

 vessels, very often fall a sacrifice to the fury and superstition of 

 the [340] Northern Indians ; who are by no means a bold or 

 warlike people; nor can I think from experience, that they are 

 particularly guilty of committing acts of wanton cruelty on any 

 other part of the human race beside the Esquimaux. Their 

 hearts, however, are in general so unsusceptible of tenderness, 

 that they can view the deepest distress in those who are not 

 immediately related to them, without the least emotion ; not 

 even half so much as the generality of mankind feel for the 

 sufferings of the meanest of the brute creation. I have been 

 present when one of them, imitating the groans, distorted 

 features, and contracted position, of a [341] man who had 

 died in the most excruciating pain, put the whole company, 

 except myself, into the most violent fit of laughter. 



very plain ; but did not know the meaning or reason of it till the Summer 

 following, when he found the shocking remains of more than forty Esquimaux, 

 who had been murdered in that cowardly manner ; and for no other reason but 

 because two principal Northern Indians had died in the preceding Winter. 



No Esquimaux were seen at Knapp's Bay for several years after ; and those 

 who trade there at present have undoubtedly been drawn from the Northward, 

 since the above unhappy transaction ; for the convenience of being nearer the 

 woods, as well as being in the way of trading with the sloop that calls there 

 annually. It is to be hoped that the measures taken by the Governors at 

 Prince of Wales's Fort of late years, will effectually prevent any such calamities 

 happening in future, and by degrees be the means of bringing about a lasting, 

 friendly, and reciprocal interest between the two nations. 



Notwithstanding the pacific and friendly terms which begin to dawn between 

 those two tribes at Knapp's Bay, Navel's Bay, and Whale Cove, farther North 

 hostilities continue, and most barbarous murders are perpetrated : and the only 

 protection the Esquimaux have from the fury of their enemies, is their remote 

 situation in the Winter, and their residing chiefly on islands and peninsulas in 

 Summer, which renders them less liable to be surprised during that Season. 

 But even this secluded life does not prevent the Northern Indians from harassing 

 them greatly, and at times they are so closely pursued as to be obliged to leave 

 most of their goods and utensils to be destroyed by their enemy; which must 

 be a great loss, as these cannot be replaced but at the expence of much time 

 and labour ; and the want of them in the meantime must create much distress 

 both to themselves and their families, as they can seldom procure any part of 

 their livelihood without the assistance of a considerable apparatus. 



In 1756, the Esquimaux at Knapp's Bay sent two of their youths to Prince 



