204 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
Of darkness curtains closely; not a sigh 
N or lightest whispering of the summer wind 
Steals on the breathless and eternal calm, 
Which o’er that region spreads its canopy. 
On the return of the crew to the ship, divine service was per¬ 
formed, which was scarcely finished before a group of Esqui¬ 
maux were seen advancing towards the ship, amongst whom 
was Tullooachiu on his wooden leg, and who appeared to be so 
perfectly at home with his new acquisition, that he at times got 
the start of his companions ; and although the road which he 
had to travel on, had not had the advantage of Mr. Me. Adam’s 
genius, yet in despite of all its ruggedness, and its slippery 
nature, the wooden leg bore him stoutly on, and he seemed to 
pride himself on the skill with which he managed it. The 
principal motive of the visit of the Esquimaux was to dispose 
of some of their dresses, which were obtained by some of the 
crew for a very trifling equivalent. A complete suit, and two 
pair of shoes were obtained for an old rusty knife and a fish¬ 
hook, but so determined was Capt. Ross to monopolize to 
himself the commerce of the Esquimaux, that he issued the 
most peremptory orders that none of the crew should purchase 
any of the articles, although in many respects some of them 
might have been highly serviceable to them, in protecting 
them from the inclemency of the weather. It is impossible to 
divine the motive of Capt. Ross for having recourse to this strict 
prohibition, nor could it be even guessed at by any of the crew; 
as articles of trade on their return to England, they were com¬ 
paratively speaking of no value whatever, and as mere specimens 
of savage ingenuity, it required not three or four large tubs full, 
v’o establish and confirm the axiom, that necessity is the parent 
of industry. A certain writer has said, De gustibus non est 
disfutandum , which has been translated for us by one of the Eton 
scholars, into, “ there is no disputing about Capt. Ross’ hobby 
horses,” although some of them it must be owned have treated him 
rather scurvily, kicking, and rearing, and plunging, and starting, 
and laying him at last almost over head and ears in a quagmire, 
to be pelted at by every one who took a fancy to the sport. 
