OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



219 



herself resumed her usual gaiety in consequence, I pressed her to commence 

 her work and placed the skins before her, when she said that she could not 

 do them here as she had no needles. These being supplied her, she now 

 complained of having no tooktdo e-wdlldo (rein-deer sinew) their usual thread. 

 This difficulty, unfortunately for Iligliuk's credit, was as easily overcome as 

 the other ; and when scissors, pattern-clothes, and all the other requisites 

 were laid before her, she was at length driven to the excuse that Okotook's 

 illness would not permit her to do it. Seeing us half laughing at the absur- 

 dity of these excuses, and half-angry at the selfish indolence which prompted 

 them, she at last flatly asserted that Okotook desired her not to work, 

 which, though we knew it to be a falsehood, the latter did not deny. We then 

 supposed that some superstition might be at the bottom of this ; but having 

 a little while after, by way of experiment, thrown Iligliuk some loose beads 

 upon the table, she eagerly employed herself for half-an-hour in stringing 

 them that not one might be lost; which proved that where her own gratifica- 

 tion or interest were concerned, Okotook's illness was not suffered to inter- 

 fere. This anecdote shews in a strong light that deep-rooted selfishness 

 which, in numberless instances, notwithstanding the superiority of Iligliuk's 

 understanding, detracted from the amiability of her disposition. The fact 

 was that she did not feel inclined so far to exert herself as to comply with 

 Captain Lyon's request; and the slight degree of gratitude and proper feel- 

 ing which was requisite to overcome that disinclination, was altogether 

 wanting. 



I have related this anecdote just as it occurred with the hope of shewing 

 the true disposition of these people, and not with a view of unduly depre- 

 ciating the character of our friend Iligliuk. I am however compelled to ac- 

 knowledge that, in proportion as the superior understanding of this extraor- 

 dinary woman became more and more developed, her head (for what female 

 head is indifferent to praise !) began to be turned with the general attention 

 and numberless presents she received. The superior decency and even 

 modesty of her behaviour had combined, with her intellectual qualities, to 

 raise her in our estimation far above her companions ; and I often heard 

 others express what I could not but agree in, that for Iligliuk alone, of all the 

 Esquimaux women, that kind of respect could be entertained which modesty 

 in a female never fails to command in our sex. Thus regarded, she had 

 always been freely admitted into the ships, the quartermasters at the gang- 

 way never thinking of refusing entrance to *' the wise woman" as they called 



2 F 2 



