264 
last voyage of CAPT. ROSS. 
seasoning them with some of the oil extracted from the blubber 
of the whale. The latter condiment is to the Esquimaux, what 
Burgess’ Anchovy is to the citizens of London, and instances are 
not rare, in which an Esquimaux has been known to devour four 
pounds of seal flesh or of salmon, well soaked in whale oil at 
one meal, with about half a gallon of water as the beverage. 
It appearing from the report of the natives, that the Glutton 
had made its annual visit to the country, several skins of which 
animal they had brought to the ship for purchase, Capt, Ross 
ordered the mechanics of the vessel to construct some traps for the 
express purpose of catching them, as a high value was put upon 
their skins although the equivalent given to the Esquimaux for 
them, was comparatively speaking, a mere bauble. 
On the 23rd, a party of Esquimaux visited the ship, bringing 
with them the skin of a glutton and a seal, for which they received 
in return a knife, but it was surprising to observe, that great as 
their anxiety appeared to be, to become the proprietors of so 
valuable an article as a knife, not the least quarrelling or alterca¬ 
tion took place between them, when the article was handed over 
to one particular individual. The seal was brought on a sledge 
drawn by a dog, and the dexterity with which they skinned it, 
could not have been surpassed by the most skilful anatomist. 
Several ravens were now seen hovering about the ship, which 
is always considered by the natives as a good omen, it being 
indicative that the seals and walruses are plentiful in the adjacent 
seas, as it is from the offal of their bodies that those birds generally 
obtain their sustenance. Commander Ross made several attempts 
to kill the ravens, but they appeared to possess all the cunning of 
their species, keeping as much as possible out of reach of the 
shot; their bodies however were only wanted as specimens of 
the different kinds of birds indigenous to the country, and two 
being already in the cabinet of Capt Ross, their escape was con¬ 
sidered a matter of minor importance. The officers in their 
excursions were however more fortunate in killing the foxes and 
hares, as they seldom returned without some booty. The former 
were only prized on account of their skins, but the hares and 
grouse formed a delectable treat to the elite of the cabin, although 
f 
