OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



455 



vengeance on the young one, he rushed in again, and, snatching the child 

 away, beat the other poor woman in a most barbarous manner over the head 

 with some heavy weapon which he had snatched up on his entrance. She never 

 spoke and, although streaming with blood, scarcely attempted to defend her- 

 self from his fury. Having continued to use her thus for some minutes, one 

 of the men present held his hand, upon which he quietly seated himself 

 and remained sulky the rest of the evening. The woman retired soon after 

 with her child some distance from the tent, where I found her giving vent 

 to her feelings by the most piercing cries. Two or three women stood round 

 her who, having satisfied their curiosity, left her without shewing the slightest 

 symptom of pity. The only cause we could discover for this brutal transac- 

 tion was, because they had not sung when their husband was dancing. He 

 took no notice of it at the time ; but appears to have meditated revenge 

 whilst seemingly wrapt up in his amusement. In the evening we found a 

 small party assembled in the same tent to hear the different spirits whom the 

 Angetkok was going to send into their presence. He came in soon after and, 

 taking his station behind the screen, descended after previously putting 

 a few questions to the bystanders. The performance differed very little from 

 Toolemak's. Ten torngas rose in succession, some of whom did not confine 

 themselves to speaking alone, but scratched and thumped against the skin 

 behind the person addressed. The Angetkok's wife sung during the cere- 

 mony, but appeared to take little interest in it, and when her duties per- 

 mitted directed all her attention to us. 



" The weather was dull on the 10th, with occasional fogs. About ten A.M. 

 there appeared a general move amongst our Esquimaux friends. On inquiry 

 it appeared that four families were going to the eastward, whilst the party to 

 which we were attached intended to remain another day, and then continue 

 their journey towards Toonoonee-roochiuk. Having gone out with our guns 

 the Esquimaux men of our party took advantage of our absence and set off 

 for Tern Island to collect eggs ; carefully concealing their intentions from 

 us lest we. should propose to accompany them. It was not until they 

 were nearly out of sight that they told the man, who remained to look after 

 our tent, where they were going, the idea of having deceived us seeming to 

 afford them much amusement. 



" The early part of the 11th was hazy; towards noon it cleared away 

 and became fine. We had felt rather cold during the night, which was the 

 first we had found at all uncomfortable. Our men went away to the west- 



