804 LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
The following sketch will perhaps fully illustrate our remarks 
respecting the cleanliness of the Esquimaux, and the exquisite 
flavour which the trout or any other viand must in consequence 
receive, on passing through such delicate hands. It was on the 
9th of March, that for four fish-hooks Capt. Ross purchased four 
dainty trout, and on the morning of the 10th, we are acquainted 
with those, who saw him regaling himself at his breakfast table, 
with a few slices out of the back of the finest of the trout, with 
the same epicurean relish, as if they had been some slices of a 
kipper cured on the banks of the Dee, in his own beloved father- 
land. He had scarcely finished his morning repast, and had 
taken his accustomed station on the quarter deck, when the same 
party who had cured the trout, were observed approaching the 
ship. They had two seals with them, which were immediately 
flayed, and some fine cutlets being cut off the ramp of one of 
them, they were put into the oven to be baked as a luncheon for 
the visitors, on the average of about four pounds for each indivi¬ 
dual. Amongst the natives was one man, who although he 
might have had given to him by nature, “ the human countenance 
divine, 5 ’ yet he had so disfigured and besmeared it with blood and 
blubber, that no one feature was to be distinguished from the 
other. His face resembled that of a prize fighter, who had been 
standing for about two hours to have his countenance altered, 
but he was given to understand that certain materials would be 
provided him, wherewith he could divest his face of the filth with 
which it was covered— nakka! nakka! (no! no!) he exclaimed, 
but holding bis face and hands out to the steward, he cried 
alloopa! alloopa ! (lick them! lick them!) nakka! nakka! 
said the steward in his turn, shaking his head, at which the 
native expressed some surprise, and finding that the steward 
would not accept of his kind invitation, he began to lick his 
hands like a cat or a dog would its paws, after having immersed 
them in a dirty kennel. But then the great question arose, in 
what manner was the face to be licked clean? the operation could 
not be performed by himself, and therefore turning to his wife, 
he cried alloopa ! alloopa ! and without any hesitation or repug¬ 
nance, she most tenderly and affectionately began at the forehead, 
