164 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



Febnfary several of the women cheerfully assisting- in the labour. The men seemed 

 to take no small pride in shewing in how expeditious and workman-like a 

 manner they could perform this ; and the hut with its outer passage was soon 

 completed. From this time they were in the constant habit of coming freely 

 to the ships ; and such as it was not always convenient to admit, usually found 

 very profitable employment in examining the heaps of ashes, sand, and other 

 rubbish on the outside, where their trouble was well repaid by picking up 

 small scraps of tin or iron. All that they found in this manner we allowed 

 them to consider their lawful property ; but were very particular in preventing 

 their handling any thing on board without permission. 



The wolves had now begun to do us some damage ; for not even the sails 

 that were fastened round the house and observatory could escape their 

 ravenous fangs, and they had thus in the course of a single night much in- 

 jured two of our studding-sails. We set traps for them on the ice ; and also 

 large shark-hooks secured with chains and baited with meat ; but the former 

 they entered and destroyed, and the latter were always found broken or bent, 

 without securing the depredators. These animals were indeed so hungry 

 and fearless as to take away some of the Esquimaux dogs in a snow-house 

 near the Hecla's stern, though the men were at the time within a few yards of 

 them. 



From the circumstance of Captain Lyon and myself having accidentally 

 gone into different huts on our first visits to the village, (for with this name 

 I believe we must venture to dignify the united abodes of more than sixty 

 human beings,) particular individuals among the Esquimaux had already 

 in a manner attached themselves to each of us. Captain Lyon now in- 

 formed me that one of his acquaintance, a remarkably fine and intelligent 

 young man named Ayolcet, had given him to understand that he had some- 

 where or other seen Kabloona* people like ourselves only a few months ago. 

 This being the case there seemed no reason why, if it were made worth his 

 while, he should not be able to see them again in the course of next summer. 

 Anxious to profit by this unexpected mode of communication, I requested 

 Captain Lyon to endeavour to direct Ayoket's attention to the scheme of 

 conveying a letter from us to the persons of whom he spoke. 

 Thurs. 7. On the 7th I paid another visit to the huts, where I found scarcely any 

 body but women and children, the whole of the men, with the exception of 

 the two oldest, having gone on a sealing excursion to the north-eastern side 



* European. 



