368 
THE TREAT T. 
ordnance included,—could not all of tliem impress 
Metek so much as the intimations he had received 
of our superior physical endowments. Nomads as 
they are, these people know better than all the world 
besides what endurance and energy it requires to 
brave the moving ice and snow-drifts. Metek thought, 
no doubt, that our strength was gone with the with¬ 
drawing party: but the fact that within ten hours 
after the loss of our buffalo-skins we had marched to 
their hut, seized three of their culprits, and marched 
them back to the brig as prisoners,—such a sixty miles’ 
achievement as this they thoroughly understood. It 
confirmed them in the faith that the whites are and 
of right ought to be everywhere the dominant tribe. 
The protocol was arranged without difficulty, though 
not without the accustomed number of adjournments 
for festivity and repose. It abounded in protestations 
of power, fearlessness, and good-will by each of the 
contracting parties, which meant as much as such pro¬ 
testations usually do on both sides the Arctic circle. 
I could give a summary of it without invading the 
privacy of a diplomatic bureau, for I have notes of it 
that were taken by a subordinate; but I prefer passing 
at once to the reciprocal engagements in which it 
resulted. 
On the part of the Inuit, the Esquimaux, they were 
after this fashion :— 
“ We promise that we will not steal. We promise 
we will bring you fresh meat. We promise we will 
sell or lend you dogs. We will keep you company 
