248 CHARACTER OF THE ESKIMOS. 



household, some of whom get up, re-adjust the trap, and retire 

 again. We were also informed of instances as they occurred of 

 stealing from each other seals left on the ice, and in one case a net 

 was taken up and carried off to Cape Smyth. 



It is almost natural to expect that falsehood should follow to 

 conceal theft, and we found it here accordingly. To invent stories 

 disparaging to others was a practice some addicted themselves to 

 without any conceivable motive, and the women backbite each other 

 and talk scandal very freely. Their confidence in our honesty 

 soon became unbounded, and goods brought to the ship and not 

 disposed of were frequently left behind ;' yet though they knew 

 our engagements would be fulfilled, when a bargain was made they 

 appeared uneasy until the payment was effected. Selfish gratification 

 at the present moment is all they seem to live for, and no promise 

 of a reward, however great, would induce them to deviate from their 

 usual life for any continued period. 



If they do not possess courage of a daring character, the3 T have 

 given us no reason to look upon them as cowards. When the crew 

 of Mr. Shedden's vessel, the Nancy Dawson, landed on the ice to 

 shoot birds, the handful of men whose tents were in the neighbour- 

 hood advanced, bow in hand, to meet them and drive them back. 

 Some of these men have since explained, that fearing the guns, 

 they thought it better to oppose the landing of the strangers than 

 trust them on shore, before knowing them to be friends ; adding, 

 that " Mr. Martin was a good man, who said they were friends, and 

 made the ship's people put away their guns." After committing a 

 robbery at our storehouse, they attempted to direct attention to 

 the Cape Smyth people as the thieves, although the track left by 

 dragging some sails had been followed to near Nu-wuk. When this 

 was pointed out, and a threat made to send an armed force to 

 recover the stolen property, they turned out to the number of 

 eighty men, with bows and spears, and advanced within musket 

 shot of the ship, rather than stand a siege in their own dwellings. 

 We have learned enough from them to believe they at first looked 

 upon us as a contemptible few whom they could easily overcome, 

 and certainly would have attempted it but for fear of the firearms ; 

 but since then, they have gone to the opposite extreme, and invested 

 us with greater powers than we really possess. On trifling occa- 

 sions some of them have shown a degree of obstinacy which renders 

 it probable, that if once engaged in a fight they would not readily 

 give in, at least if there was anything like equality of weapons ; and, 

 under any circumstances, they might be expected to defend their 

 homes to the last extremity. 



