136 THE ARCTIC HIGHLANDERS. Chap. VHI. 



land, but had neither sledge-dogs nor kayak ; 

 hunger had compelled him to eat the sealskin 

 which covered the framework of the latter. 

 Petersen gave them messages for Hans from his 

 Greenland friends, and advice that he should 

 fix his residence here, where he might see the 

 whalers and perhaps be taken back to Greenland. 

 The natives did not seem to be badly off for 

 anything except dogs, some distemper having 

 carried off most of these indispensable animals, 

 I was therefore unable to procure any from 

 them. These people spent the winter here ; 

 they seemed healthy, well-clad, and happy little 

 fellows. One of them is brother-in-law to Eras- 

 mus York, who voluntarily came to England in 

 the 'Assistance' in 1851. This man is an 

 angeJcok, or magician ; he has a still flatter face 

 than the rest of his countrymen, but appears 

 more thoughtful and intelligent. 



Petersen pointed out to me a stout old fellow, 

 with a tolerable sprinkling of beard and mou- 

 stache. This worthy perpetrated the only mur- 

 der which has taken place for several years in 

 the tribe : he disliked his victim and stood in 

 need of his dogs, therefore he killed the owner 

 and appropriated his property! Such motives 

 and passions usually govern the " unsophis- 

 ticated children of nature ;" yet, as savages, the 



