36 Canadian Record of Science. 



made aware of the theft, immediately made up to the fellow, 

 wrenched the skin out of his hand and warned them all 

 not to attempt anything of the kind again. This fellow 

 helped himself to the fox in presence of the Indians, not 

 one of whom attempted to prevent him, I could already see 

 that the Esquimaux looked upon them with contempt, 

 invariably addressing them as " nonga," which, in their 

 language, signifies " spittle." Even Laporte was favored 

 with this mark of their esteem. 



On making enquiries of them regarding Captain McClure's 

 despatches, I could obtain no satisfaction ; they all denied 

 having seen or heard of any such having been delivered to 

 the Esquimaux, but from the change which the counten- 

 ances of several of them underwent during the examination, 

 and other causes, I had every reason to suspect that they 

 knew something about them. These Esquimaux are exceed- 

 ingly fond of written or printed paper, and it has been no 

 uncommon thing with the Indians to exchange their debt 

 bills with them for arrows, &c. It may therefore readily 

 be presumed that lEcClure's despatches have been cut up, 

 and may thus be, in minute portions, in possession of a 

 great number of Esquimaux. 1 From the inability of 

 Laporte on this and every subsequent occasion to make 

 himself thoroughly understood by the Indians who acted as 

 Esquimaux interpreters, I could not ascertain the origin of 

 this fondness for written paper, or whether they attributed 

 any medicinal or other virtue in its possession. 



After a stay of some hours, we again started, embarking 

 the chief in Laporte's canoe so as to facilitate our inter- 

 course with the Esquimaux lower down. Most of his men 

 also wished to accompany us, but as they would have 

 proved a source of much annoyance, I peremptorily ordered 

 them to return. Two Coast Esquimaux were allowed to 

 follow. Until we camped at half-past 10 p.m., we saw 

 several small parties from whom we traded a few fox skins; 

 the women put off to us in their boats, and on receiving the 



1 An account of the discovery of McClure's despatches in 1862, will be found in 

 Hargrave's Eed Paver," published in 1871. 



