OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



413 



a sitting, and at least ten in the course of a day*, and who never bestow a J?' 23 - 



. . March, 



thought on to-morrow, at least with the view to provide for it by economy, 



there is scarcely any supply which could secure them from occasional 

 scarcity. It is highly probable that the alternate feasting and fasting to 

 which the gluttony and improvidence of these people so constantly sub- 

 ject them, may have occasioned many of the complaints that proved fatal 

 during the winter ; and ont his account we hardly knew whether to rejoice 

 or not at the general success of their fishery. Certain it is, that on a 

 particular occasion of great plenty, one or two individuals were seen 

 lying in the huts so distended by the quantity of meat they had eaten, that 

 they were unable to move, and were suffering considerable pain arising 

 solely from this cause. Indeed it is difficult to assign any other probable 

 reason for the lamentable proportion of deaths that took place during our 

 stay at Igloolik, while, during a season of nearly equal severity, and of 

 much greater privation as to food, at Winter Island, not a single death 

 occurred. Notwithstanding their general plenty, there were times in 

 the course of this winter, as well as the last, when our bread dust was 

 of real service to them, and they were always particularly desirous of 

 obtaining it for their younger children. They distinguished this kind of 

 food by the name of kdmbrdot, and biscuit or soft bread by that of shegalak, 

 the literal meaning of which terms we never could discover, but supposed 

 them to have some reference to their respective qualities. 



Our lengthened acquaintance with the Esquimaux and their language, Frid. 7. 

 which a second winter passed among them afforded, gave us an opportunity 



* Lest it should be thought that this account is exaggerated, I may here state that, as a 

 matter of curiosity, we one day tried how much a lad scarcely full grown, would, if freely 

 supplied, consume in this way. The under-mentioned articles were weighed before being 

 given to him ; he was twenty hours in getting through them, and certainly did not con- 

 sider the quantity extraordinary. 



lbs. oz. 



Sea-horse flesh, hard frozen ...... 4 4 



Ditto, boiled . . . . . . . . 4 4 



Bread and bread-dust . 1 12 



Total of solids .... 10 4 

 The fluids were in fair proportion, viz., 



Rich gravy-soup 1| pint. 



Raw spirits 3 wine-glasses. 



Strong grog 1 tumbler. 



# Water 1 gallon 1 pint* 



