OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



521 



Notwithstanding the rough treatment which they receive from their masters 

 their attachment to them is very great, and this they display after a short 

 absence by j limping up and licking their faces all over with extreme delight. 

 The Esquimaux however never caress them, and indeed scarcely ever take any 

 notice of them but when they offend, and they are then not sparing in their 

 Mows. The dogs have all names to which they attend with readiness, 

 whether drawing in a sledge or otherwise. Their names are frequently the 

 same as those of the people, and in some instances are given after the rela- 

 tions of their masters, which seems to be considered an act of kindness among 

 them. Upon the whole, notwithstanding the services performed by these 

 valuable creatures, I am of opinion that art cannot well have done less 

 towards making them useful, and that the same means in almost any other 

 hands would be employed to greater advantage. 



In the disposition of these people, there was of course among so many 

 individuals considerable variety as to the minute points ; but in the general 

 features of their character, which with them are not subject to the changes 

 produced by foreign intercourse, one description will nearly apply to all. 

 The virtue which, as respected ourselves, we could most have wished 

 them to possess is honesty, and the impression derived from the early part 

 of our intercourse was certainly in this respect a favourable one. A great 

 many instances occurred, some of which have been related, where they 

 appeared even scrupulous in returning articles that did not belong to them ; 

 and this too when detection of a theft, or at least of the offender, would 

 have been next to impossible. As they grew more familiar with us, and the 

 temptations became stronger, they gradually relaxed in their honesty, and 

 petty thefts were from time to time committed by several individuals both 

 male and female among them. 



The bustle which any search for stolen goods occasioned at the huts was 

 a sufficient proof of their understanding the estimation in which the crime 

 was held by us. Until the affair was cleared up, they would affect great 

 readiness to shew every article which they had got from the ships, repeating 

 the name of the donor with great warmth as if offended at our suspicions, 

 yet with a half-smile on their countenance at our supposed credulity in 

 believing them. There was indeed at all times some degree of trick and 



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