LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
309 
atmosphere, pregnant with the most sickening effluvia, he would 
have exclaimed with the poet 
Base viands 
That do corrupt my wholesome blood and turn 
The hue of health, to pale cadav’rous looks, 
That with jour tainted smell do pall the sense 
And sicken th’ appetite, I’ll have none of ye. 
The same Esquimaux that had brought the trout, returned on 
the following day, bringing with them half a bear’s skin, and 
on being questioned as to what had become of the other half, 
they prevaricated for some time, and at last confessed that they 
had left it at their huts, thereby furnishing another proof that 
simple as these people might appear in their general habits, a 
degree of low cunning was amalgamated with their character, 
which is generally looked for in depraved and degenerate dis¬ 
positions. On the other hand it may be said in extenuation of 
their conduct, that it was instilled into them by their transactions 
with the crew of the Victory, and the evident inclination that was 
shown to overreach them in their bargains, and to give them a 
poor equivalent for the articles which they brought for sale or 
barter. Thus they argued with themselves that it was most 
likely that two halves would fetch more than the whole, for if 
they brought the latter, they should only receive a few needles or 
fish-hooks, and they should receive the same for a half. It was to 
them a kind of separate transaction, and each to receive its 
separate reward or remuneration ; they were however rather 
defeated in their expectations when they were told that the half 
of a skin was of little or no value, and that in fact they had spoilt 
the article altogether in having cut it in two. To this they 
answered, that although it was cut in two, an expert hand 
could so sew them together, that the division would not be per¬ 
ceptible. Notwithstanding these arguments and counter argu¬ 
ments, enforced on each side with all becoming gravity and 
importance, the Esquimaux discovered to their loss and discom- 
