LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WAR. 



193 



him where a harbour could be found ? As soon as he under- 

 stood what was meant, which was an affair of some difficulty, 

 for he then could speak but very little English, he got up on 

 the vesseFs bulwark, and looked anxiously around. After 

 some hesitation, he pointed to a place where the ship might 

 go, and then went to the lead-line, and made signs to Mr. Low 

 that he must sound as he approached the land. The cove was 

 found to have a shoal and narrow entrance, but was safe and 

 sufficiently spacious within. Such knowledge at so early an age 

 is an extraordinary proof of the degree in which the perceptive 

 and retentive faculties are enjoyed by these savages. Whenever 

 the advice of Niqueaccas or any of his tribe was rejected, much 

 suUenness and displeasure were shown. Upon one occasion his 

 services were refused, and a harbour tried against his advice, 

 which proved to be a bad one ; it was left to seek for that 

 which he had previously recommended, and his sullenness 

 suddenly changed into delight; but when his harbour was 

 pronounced excellent, and he was duly praised, his joy knew 

 no bounds. 



Generally speaking, both Niqueaccas and the boy Bob were 

 well-behaved and good-tempered ; but the boy was sometimes 

 inclined to be mischievous, and would hide the people'^s clothes, 

 or put salt into their mouths while asleep. When much annoyed, 

 he would use both teeth and nails, and attack any one, however 

 superior to himself in size and strength. 



Battles between parties of the same tribe seem to occur 

 occasionally, as this boy showed Mr. Low two spots where 

 quarrels had been decided. Both were open spaces, clear of 

 trees, and near them were the remains of wigwams. One of 

 those battles occurred in consequence of one party wishing 

 to take some seal-skins away from the other ; but it did not 

 distinctly appear from the boy's account whether these encoun- 

 ters were between parties of his tribe, or whether an encroach- 

 ment upon their territory, with a view to plunder, had been 

 made by some other tribe. That parties occasionally cross 

 overland from Skyring Water to Obstruction Sound is evident 

 from Mr, Bynoe's account (page 198), and that people of the 



VOL. II. o 



