LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
425 
having received a file as a remuneration, he took his departure. 
The biter was again bitten : for, as the agreement ran between 
the two conspirators, that the remuneration should be equally 
shared, and that as no method existed, of dividing the file, it 
became a question, to whom it belonged ? It was proved, on 
the part of Kujukpun, that the file was delivered to him, and, 
therefore, it became his own property. Unfortunately for Pow- 
yeke, he could not prove that the property, for which the file 
was given, was in reality his own; and, therefore, in default of 
the proper evidence, he was non-suited, and the file awarded to 
Kujukpun . 
On the 8th, a whole family came to the ship, among whom 
was a man, on his way to Shagerwak, for his canoe. He 
remained on board during the night: and although, on the 
following morning, the weather was so thick and hazy, that it 
was impossible to see to the distance of fifty yards, yet he set off* 
on his expedition, shaping his course, as if he had a compass to 
direct him. It was always a matter of wonder to the crew of 
the Victory, how the Esquimaux found their way to different 
places, and in which their course was always as true, as if they 
had land-marks to direct them. This man had his dog with 
him; and it was generally believed, that this animal was al¬ 
ways a great assistant to the wandering Esquimaux, in guiding 
him to his destined place : but, in the present instance, the dog 
could not be of any use whatever, for it was ascertained, that he 
had never been at Shagerwak. Without stopping to take a 
senik, the Esquimaux travelled the whole of the night, and ar¬ 
rived on the following day at the ship, with the canoe upon his 
head: this w r as almost the first instance of an Esquimaux refus¬ 
ing to dispose of any article in his possession ; for, although an 
adequate remuneration was offered for the canoe, it was refused, 
on the principle, that his subsistence depended upon it; and 
that were he to part with the canoe, he should not have time to 
build another, before the fishing season commenced. Having 
partaken of some seal, he trudged away to the south-east, with 
his canoe on his head : and although the weather continued 
to be thick, he seemed perfectly confident in the rightness of 
18. 3 i 
