It is rather remarkable, that the habitations of the Esquimaux had never before been visited by the officers of the Hudson’s-Bay ships, although they had often landed in the Straits: but this may be explained in two ways. In the first place, the Esquimaux are evidently anxious to conceal their places of abode; secondly, the commanders of the Hudson’s-Bay ships have directions from the Company not to go on shore amongst the Esquimaux themselves, nor to send their boats; and they have orders also to be continually on their guard, in all communications with this people. Possibly these orders have been issued since the horrid termination of an attempt to establish a permanent white whale fishery at Richmond; and probably that circumstance may have given rise to the regulation. I shall relate the dreadful story in the sequel, when I reach that part of my Narrative where it will be necessary to give a short description of the factories in Hudson’s Bay: it would be considered as too long a digression to insert it at present. We had the good fortune, therefore, to be the first Europeans who, for the last forty years, have visited the habitations of the Esquimaux. I have thus been enabled to describe them fully, from my own observations. And there is another point upon which I am able to speak positively, although the circumstance did not fall under my own inspection: I allude to the manner of disposing of their dead.
His Majesty’s ship Brazen, Captain Stirling, in the year 1813, convoyed the Hudson’s-Bay ships into the Bay. Captain Stirling and some of his officers landed in the Straits, but could not find any habitations of the natives: however, in wandering about the hills, they discovered an object of no less curiosity; namely, the dead body of an Esquimaux: it was closely wrapt in skins, and laid in a sort of gully between two rocks, as if intended to be defended from the cold winds of the ocean: by the side of the corpse lay the bow and arrows, spears, and harpoon of the deceased; together with a tin pot, containing a few beads and three or four English halfpence: the last articles had evidently been procured by the deceased in traffic with the Company’s ships.
The reason of the body having been laid on the surface of the earth, is in consequence of the impossibility of penetrating the flinty rock, of which the whole coast is composed; and the custom of depositing his arms by the side of the corpse of a deceased Indian, is common to many barbarous nations.[18]
As it may be expected that something should be said respecting the government and religion of the Esquimaux, I shall briefly state, that they did not appear to me to trouble their heads with either. They certainly paid great respect to the old man who sang to us the song before mentioned; but it does not necessarily follow that he was either a prince or a priest. It is probable that they venerated him more on account of his age, than from any civil or ecclesiastical authority with which he was invested. But the Esquimaux, and all other nations around Hudson’s Bay, have a notion of a superior spirit, whom they concur in styling Manéto, or Good Spirit. It is not known whether the Esquimaux have any idea of an Evil Being; but the Cree Indians imagine that there is a great number of that species, whose sole delight consists in tormenting mankind[19].
With respect to the language of the Esquimaux, I have been able to collect a few specimens: and I shall insert, against each word, in what part of the coast each expression was ascertained to be in use, and the authority from whence I derived my information.
| Words. | Signification. | Where used. | Authority. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chymo | Barter. | On the shores of Hudson’s Straits. | Ascertained by myself. |
| Pillitay | Give me something. | ||
| We-we | A white goose. | ||
| Wau-ve | An egg. | ||
| Muck Mhameek | A knife. | ||
| Kippy Swau, beck | A saw. | ||
| Muck-tu | A deer. | ||
| Twau-ve | Go away—begone. | ||
| Tuck-tu | Seal blubber. | ||
| Kiack | Canoe. | Churchill, and in Hudson’s Straits. | Ascertained by one of the most respectable Traders belonging to Churchill Factory. |
| Omiack | A ship. | ||
| Kannau weet ameg | A dart. | ||
| Ye meck | Water. | ||
| Hennelay | A woman. | ||
| Aunay | Far off. | ||
| Cob-loo-nak | An Englishman. | Churchill Factory. | |
| Mai | Good. | ||
| Nagga Mai | Not good. | ||
| Karrack | Wood. | ||
| Peo-me-wonga | I would have. | By the Natives of the Missionary Settlement. | By the German Missionary before mentioned. |
| Ak-ka-karor mapock | It shall have payment. |
Having given a short account of the Esquimaux, their manners, and customs, I may now proceed with my Journal as before; and content myself with making a few cursory remarks, as we sail along.
August 1st.—The whole of this day we continued off Saddle Back[20]; as the Hudson’s-Bay ships had some arrangements to make, previous to their final separation, which always takes place off Mansfield Island, at the entrance of Hudson’s Bay. Towards evening, we began to ply to windward, with a fresh breeze at west. Thermometer 40° in the shade.
August 2d.—Beating to windward with a strong breeze, in the afternoon we hove-to off Icy Cove, about a mile to the westward of two remarkable hills, called the Virgin’s Paps, which last lay nine leagues to the westward of Saddle Back. On firing a gun and hoisting our colours, we were immediately visited by another party of Esquimaux: there was no difference whatever in their appearance from those we had seen before. One of our officers purchased a canoe of a native, for which he paid a kettle, a lance, a saw, and a spoon. Our curiosity was considerably excited, to observe in what manner this man would contrive to reach the shore; and we really entertained serious apprehensions for his safety, when we perceived him stretch himself out upon his belly on another canoe, at the back of the man who used the paddle. He was in this dangerous position conveyed to land, not daring to lift his head, through fear of destroying the equilibrium of the canoe; which did not swim two inches above the surface of the sea.
After night-fall, we were compelled to tack ship about, to avoid a large patch of floating ice.