412 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



March P resent well-authenticated instance of theft, in trying the effect of some 

 more serious penalty. The delinquent was therefore put down into the 

 Fury's store-room passage, and closely confined there for several hours ; 

 when having collected several of the natives on board the Fury, I ordered 

 him to be stripped and seized up in their presence, and to receive a dozen 

 lashes on the back with a cat-o'-nine-tails. The instant this was over, his 

 countrymen called out very earnestly, " Timun, timunna," (That's right, 

 that's right,) and seemed much relieved from the fright they had before 

 been in while the fate of the thief seemed doubtful ; but in three minutes 

 after not one of them was to be found near the ships, for they hur- 

 ried off to the huts as fast as their legs and sledges could carry them. 

 This example proved just what we desired; in less than eight-and-forty 

 hours, men, women, and children came to the ships with the same confidence 

 as before, always abusing Oo-oo-took, pronouncing themselves and us 

 uncommonly good people, but evidently more cautious than before of really 

 incurring our displeasure. The occurrence just related, instead of being 

 placed to the account of these people's bad propensities, rather served to 

 remind us of the rareness of such occurrences, and therefore to furnish fresh 

 proof of their general honesty. It can, indeed, be scarcely doubted, that 

 few if any savages would have withstood so many temptations to dishonesty 

 as these Esquimaux had for months together been exposed to, without a 

 single instance of theft occurring. 



This incident explained in some degree the meaning of the custom before 

 mentioned, of stroking down the front of their jackets with the palm of the 

 hand, which we observed them practise here on our first acquaintance. 

 Oo-oo-took did this so frequently at the times when he was most frightened, 

 and also the other Esquimaux during his punishment, that little doubt re- 

 mained of its being in part meant to imply submission. 



Wed. 5. The Esquimaux were about this time rather badly off for food, in conse- 

 quence of the winds having of late been unfavourable for their fishery ; but 

 this had only occurred two or three times in the course of the winter, and 

 never so much as to occasion any great distress. It is certain indeed, that the 

 quantity of meat which they procured between the 1st of October and the 

 1st of April, was sufficient to have furnished about double the population of 

 working people, who were moderate eaters, and had any idea of providing 

 for a future day ; but to individuals who can demolish four or five pounds at 



