communication; but no success attended their meri. torious and cheerless exertions-beyond the probable circumstance of their being in the only inlet to the Polar Sea, were it unobstructed by ice. So menacing did their situation now become, that it was deemed expedient to return to the Eastward to pass the winter near Igloolik, by which they would be sooner disengaged next season, than in this, of all Hyperborean deserts, the most dreary. Eleven months at least must have been the term of their imprisonment, uncheered by the sight of a single animal "even in the spring; as the continual ice forbade even the approach of ducks."

On the 24th, they anchored within the island, and found their old acquaintances. The frames, of the greater part of their huts were constructed of bone: but as these were inadequate to the accommodation of the whole tribe, some had provided themselves with beautiful residences of slabs of fresh-water ice, cemented with snow. At a distance, the inmates could be distinguished through the transparent walls; but they were so perfectly air-tight, as to be quite warm. Here then they became fixed (not exactly as they could have wished in regard of position) for a second winter; and their associates of the preceding one began to make their appearance at the new quarters. The ships were about a mile distant from each other.*

They kept Christmas again on "real English fresh Beef;" and however insignificant such an event may appear to some, it is curious, that they should have kept the article in question so long, and not unedifying to observe the use made of it. Divine service was performed in the early part of the day.

It may be interesting to quote the account given of the effect of the cold. The ships' companies were

* One consequence of this distant position was the necessary abandonment of some of their former amusements-there were no plays during the second winter.

in excellent health; but this second winter was severe to those, who had experienced little inconvenience from the first. The following is Captain L.'s account of his own case in this respect.

"At our first quarters, my clothing, with the exception of a thicker Jacket, was the same as I had worn during summer. I never exceeded one pair of thin worsted Stockings, neither did I find it requisite, unless the weather was windy, to wear either a great coat, or comforter when walking out. There were two or three others equally insensible to the cold as myself; but the change of climate had an effect on me, which I believe was not experienced by the rest, and which was, that the hair from my body regularly moulted, if I may be excused the expression, and was renewed two or three times; even in the summer following, and this second winter, the process still continued, although in a slighter degree. My health all this time was better, than I had ever enjoyed for so long a period. But to return to Igloolik. We all now felt the absolute necessity of putting on additional clothing; both while below, and when walking out, coldness in the feet was, I believe, the most general complaint. The weather was constantly much more severe, than at our last station, and the mean temperature of December, was lower than at Melville island. Our stone funnels collected a quantity of ice within them, notwithstanding fires were kept up night and day, so that it was frequently requisite to take them down, in order to break, and melt the ice out of them, as it collected in the same form as the pulp of a Cocoanut. lies within its shell."

Captain Lyon gives a particular separate account of the Esquimaux-their persons, dress, occupations and economy, which we cannot possibly abridge. They appear to be a good natured people, exceedingly filthy and exposed to great hardships, more perhaps from their brutish improvidence, than the real disadvantages of their climate, for to a people who prefer seals, whales, and walruses to all food---and will eat wolves hides, and nobody knows what, a little diligence and fore sight would ensure, if not abundance, at least a sufficiency all the year round. They are of small stature, and swarthy complexion, not very robust-and pot-bellied though not corpulent. In general they had high cheek bones, and flat noses, though some of them exhibited the Roman appendage.

Their clothes consist entirely of skins, which they put together neatly and carefully; the women differing principally from the men in the enormous dimensions of their boots.

The manner of killing the seals is curious. These animals make a breathing hole for themselves in the ice, through which they now and then raise the head. An Esquimaux will sit watching this event for hours together; and generally strikes his game effectually with a spear. They have more trouble, and run more risk with the walrus. They do not hesitate to attack the polar bear, and an individual will destroy the fierce female and her cubs, single handed.

Their dogs, which are powerful, and of such great consequence, fare but scurvily. They are indifferent to the cold, and well inured to hunger. Captain Lyon had a team of his own the second winter, and had good reason to commend them for their excellent qualities.

Wild and fleet as are the Rein-deer, and unlikely as the rude weapons of these people may be, for the purpose of reaching them, they supply all defects by various stratagems; getting the animal within a short distance of the hunter, and being enabled to take a sure aim.

The Esquimaux are a wandering race, and in their migrations do not seem to be guided by the inducements of a fertile and plentiful district. In this preference of desolate and inhospitable regions, our author compares them to the Arabs of the desert.

There

are nearly in the same parallel of latitude, stations abounding in sea animals, and also possessing reindeer, musk-oxen, &c. but which are rarely visited. They have no established places of residence, but they possess a few general mustering stations. Igluolik and Repulse Bay were among these. Those, who have seen them, all enjoy a reputation corresponding to that of great travellers elsewhere. They are well acquainted with the country, and are guided in their journies by known objects.

The people with whom our countrymen had intercourse, considered several other tribes as greatly beneath them, and indeed as savages. Such was the

case with regard to the inhabitants of Southampton Island, who, though so near were never visited; and were held in contempt. Such was the case also with the people, who were first met with. The tribe afterwards encountered, on being shewn drawings, &c. of these imitated their cries with every mark of scorn and ridicule. They have notions also of other countries, delighting to hear of them, and are possessed of extraordinary information of Europeans (Kabloonas) and Indians.

We have already noticed their honesty-the exceptions to which our author considers to have been rather apparent than real; but they are envious, and this has given them a disposition to beg; the general plea in such cases being the right to equal treatment with some other, who has received greater favours. They know nothing of gratitude, and are extremely prone to defamation. These bad qualities are particularly conspicuous among the females. They gave strong proofs of an hospitable disposition to our friends; but probably in this, there might have been an eye to their own advantage.

They are even-tempered, and not addicted to revenge-therefore, quarrels among them are almost unknown. If they are not highly courageous, they possess insensibility to danger in a great degree. Marriage contracts are made early, and they begin to live together, as soon as they have the means of keeping a menage--but there is no marriage ceremony among them, and our author did not discover, what were the qualifications requis te on the part of a wife. Bigamy is common--and there are concubines. Divorces are frequent, and the women generally form some new connexion. The women are well, if not fondly treated: Young couples are frequently seen rubbing noses, their favourite mark of affection, with an air of tenderness.

But we must give all hope of presenting any thing like an abridgement of this chapter up in despair, and hasten to the close of the volume.

During this second winter, they lost sight of the sun for above 40 days; and after he again made his appearance, we have a most entertaining account of some of the savages who had fallen sick, and would have died, but for the singular and self-tormenting humanity shewn them in the ships. The conduct of the Esquimaux patients is even ludicrous in description, though it must have been calamitous to our countrymen. They behaved like the worst spoiled children, with all the aggravations of their natural propensities, fully displayed for the purpose of annoyance. In short, the price they demanded for the trouble of being saved from death and extreme misery, was far beyond the possibility of payment. The grossest indifference about the bodies of the dead, young children deprived of their mothers, and widows left unprotected, is exemplified in a most hideous manner. Will it not be in the power of the Missionary Society, so anxious for human health, to send some teachers to these truly benighted regions? It would be fully as promising a harvest, as in the West India Colonies.

Scurvy began to make its appearance; but among the officers only, which is accounted for by their being less regular in taking exercise, less attentive to avoid sudden changes of temperatnre than the men were compelled to, and from their eating salt meat. Donkin's preserved meats, and the usual vegetable preserves, together with the mustard, cress, &c. raised in boxes in the cabins, brought them all round again.

On April 15th, the Greenland mate of the Hecla, who had been long ill, died in his third voyage, and after the second winter of that voyage.

It was about this time decided, to complete the store of provisions for another year for the Fury, and send the Hecla home, while the former ship should make a further attempt in the Summer, less in the hope of penetrating to the west, than of adding to geogra phical knowledge, and of finding a direct way to Lancaster sound. This noble resolution was carried so far