OF THE POLAR SEA. 143 



rats construct their houses, formed a new 

 earth. First, a small conical hill of mud 

 appeared above the water; by-and-by, its 

 base gradually spreading out, it became an 

 extensive bank, which the rays of the sun 

 at length hardened into firm land. Not- 

 withstanding the power that Wcesack- 

 ootchacht here displayed, his person is held 

 in very little reverence by the Indians ; and, 

 in return, he seizes every opportunity of 

 tormenting them. His conduct is far from 

 being moral, and his amours, and the dis- 

 guises he assumes in the prosecution of 

 them, are more various and extraordinary 

 than those of the Grecian Jupiter himself ; 

 but as his adventures are more remarkable 

 for their eccentricity than their delicacy, it 

 is better to pass them over in silence. Be- 

 fore we quit him, however, we may remark, 

 that he converses with all kinds of birds 

 and beasts in their own languages, con- 

 stantly addressing them by the title of bro- 

 ther, but through an inherent suspicion of 

 his intentions, they are seldom willing to 

 admit of his claims of relationship. The 



