90 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 



Very little more than the mere necessaries of 

 life (which, a little reflection will convince every- 

 one, are few indeed) will satisfy an Indian; for he 

 has no stimulus to industry. When he has killed 

 food he has generally procured clothing also; 

 therefore he will work no longer. As seals are 

 infinitely more valuable to an Esquimau, and 

 much more certain to be kjlled by him, than foxes, 

 martens, or any other animals, on the skins of 

 which luxury has fixed a better price; it is not 

 surprising that he will stick close to the chase of 

 the one, to the great neglect of the other. Besides, 

 the catching of furs is so fatiguing and precarious, 

 and the carcasses so small, that, were he to give up 

 his time to that business, his family must perish 

 with hunger. Yet I have not a doubt, but com- 

 merce will, in progress of time, have the same 

 effect on these people, that it ever has had on 

 other nations : it will introduce luxury, which will 

 increase their wants, and urge them to much more 

 industry than they at present possess. They will 

 then purchase traps, learn to build deathfalls, and 

 contrive other devices to kill furs, at such times 

 as a successful seal-chase shall give them lei- 

 sure to pay proper attention to that branch of 

 trade. 



In the afternoon I went over to the island and 

 visited the ladies. I found them variously em- 

 ployed, and observed that great attention was 

 paid to the providing of belly-timber: for the 

 kettle was either boiled, or boiling, in every tent. 

 Some were busy in dressing green seal-skins, and 



