LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
403 
the jagged summits of her native hills, than she was seen bend¬ 
ing in the attitude of the deepest sorrow, at the entrance of the 
hut of Alwak ; and another proof was given, that they are in 
error, who declare that steam is the most powerful agent, that is 
known on earth ; for there is one, in whatever clime, or by what¬ 
ever people it maybe exercised, that is superior to it—-and that 
is a woman’s tears. Fast they fell down the cheeks of Narlu¬ 
warga, and her nose came in contact with that of Alwak. Anneel 
yanga, (shall I go,) exclaimed Alwak. Nakka! Nakka! Ossar- 
saree Alwak. (No ! no! beloved Alwak,) answered Narluwarga. 
Owanee Anneel yanga , said Alwak , (shall I go far off?) Tokoo- 
woke! (Die I shall!) cried Narluwarga ! and their noses again 
met each other in affectionate friction. The die of Alwak was 
cast, and so was that of Narluwarga ; a woman’s tears had again 
determined the destiny of a human being, and on a single mo¬ 
ment depended the brightness, or the darkness, of the warp and 
woof of the web of his future happiness. 
In the mean time so sanguine were the officers of the Victory, 
in the acceptation of the offer made to Alwak , that orders had 
been actually given to prepare a berth for him; for, even if he 
were able to withstand the dazzling splendour of the offer, and 
all the inestimable advantages, which were held out to him, 
or likely to accrue, on being admitted into the society and 
fellowship of civilized beings, yet it was supposed, that the 
great attachment, which he professed to entertain towards Com¬ 
mander Ross, would probably overcome every other considera¬ 
tion ; such as the love of country, of kindred, of native habits 
and native customs, and other such amiable feelings, stigmatized 
as weaknesses by the philosopher and the stoic ; but they had 
not taken it into their account, that the passion of love can warm 
the breast of the seal-clad Esquimaux, as well as the voluptuous 
Andalusian ; and above all, they could not suspect, from the ge¬ 
neral conduct of Alwak , from his continual gaiety and light¬ 
heartedness—that his was a breast, which had ever succumbed 
to the power of love. 
Great was, therefore, the surprise of the assembled officers, 
when, on the following day, as they were seated in their cabin 
