OF THE POLAR SEA. 



77 



being dirty, they had peeled the surface. 

 However, the flavour of good moose meat 

 will survive any process that it undergoes 

 in their hands, except smoking. 



Having provided myself with some draw- 

 ing materials, I amused the Indians with a 

 sketch of the interior of the tent and its in- 

 habitants. An old woman, who was rela- 

 ting with great volubility an account of 

 some quarrel with the traders at Cumber- 

 land House, broke off from her narration 

 when she perceived my design; supposing 

 perhaps, that I was employing some charm 

 against her; for the Indians have been 

 taught a supernatural dread of particular 

 pictures. One of the young men drew, 

 with a piece of charcoal, a figure resem- 

 bling a frog, on the side of the tent, and by 

 significantly pointing at me, excited peals 

 of merriment from his companions. The 

 caricature was comic ; but I soon fixed 

 their attention, by producing my pocket 

 compass, and affecting it with a knife. 

 They have great curiosity, which might 

 easily be directed to the attainment of 



