Captain Ross, in the Journal of his Arctic Expedition,
gives the following account of his first interview with the
Esquimaux, in the northern parts of Baffin’s Bay:
“These Esquimaux,” says he, “conceived the _ships to be living and
flying creatures_.” ... “I had been employed, with a good telescope, in
observing their motions, and beheld the first man approach, with every
mark of fear and distrust—looking frequently behind to the other two,
and beckoning them to come on, as if for support. They occasionally
retreated, then advanced again, with cautious steps, in the attitude of
listening; generally keeping one hand down by their knees, in readiness
to pull out a knife, which they had in their boots: in the other hand
they held their whips, with the lash coiled up: their sledges remained
at a little distance—the fourth man being apparently stationed to keep
them in readiness for escape. Sometimes they drew back the covering they
had on their heads, as if wishing to catch the most distant sounds: at
which time I could discern their features, displaying extreme terror and
amazement, while every limb appeared to tremble as they moved.” They were
requested to cross a chasm, which separated them from the interpreter, by
a plank; but “appeared still much alarmed, and requested that Sackhouse
(the interpreter) only should come over. He accordingly passed to the
opposite side, on which they earnestly beseeched him not to touch them,
as, if he did, _they should certainly die_. After he had used many
arguments to persuade them that he was flesh and blood, the native, who
had shown most courage, ventured to touch his hand; then, pulling himself
by the nose, set up a shout, in which he was joined by Sackhouse and
the other three. The presents were then distributed, consisting of two
or three articles of clothing, and a few strings of beads. After which,
Sackhouse exchanged his knife for one of theirs.”
Captain Ross and Lieutenant Parry then went on the ice, and, “by the time
they reached it, the whole were assembled: those who had originally been
left at a distance, with their sledges, having driven up to join their
comrades. The party now, therefore, consisted of eight natives, with all
their sledges, and about fifty dogs, two sailors, Sackhouse, Lieutenant
Parry, and myself—forming a group of no small singularity, not a little
increased, also, by the peculiarity of the situation on a field of ice,
far from the land. The noise and clamour may be easily conceived—the
whole talking and shouting together, and the dogs howling, while the
natives were flogging them with their long whips, to preserve order.
Our arrival produced considerable alarm, causing them to retreat a few
steps towards their sledges. On this, Sackhouse called to us to _pull our
noses_, as he had discovered this to be the mode of friendly salutation
among them. This ceremony was accordingly performed by each of us, the
natives, during their retreat, making use of the same gesture; the nature
of which we had not before understood.” Presents were then made, and, “on
seeing their faces in the glasses, their astonishment appeared extreme,
and they looked round in silence, for a moment, at each other, and at
us. Immediately afterwards, they set up a general shout, succeeded by a
loud laugh, expressive of extreme delight as well as surprise—in which we
joined, partly from inability to avoid it, and willing also to show that
we were pleased with our new acquaintances.” Confidence shortly after
became established, and uncovering of heads was substituted for pulling
of noses—the natives appearing to comprehend the nature of this ceremony
more quickly than the seamen did the other, and probably not considering
it a much more reasonable, although a more inconvenient, testimony
of respect. They were then invited to the ship, to which one of them
thought proper to _address a speech_, “_pausing between every question,
and pulling his nose with the utmost solemnity_.” All the wonder to be
expected was here excited; but the quantity of the wood and iron appeared
to be the chief objects of surprise.
“Their knowledge of wood seemed to be limited to some heath of a dwarfish
growth, with stems no thicker than the finger; and, accordingly, they
knew not what to think of the timber they saw on board. Not being aware
of its weight, two or three of them, successively, seized on the spare
topmast, evidently with the view of carrying it off; and, as soon as they
became familiar with the people around them, they showed that desire
of possessing what they admired, which is so universal among savages.
The only thing they looked upon with contempt, was a little terrier
dog;—judging, no doubt, that it was too small for drawing a sledge. But
they shrunk back, as if in terror, from a pig, whose pricked ears and
ferocious aspect (being of the Shetland breed) presented a somewhat
formidable appearance. This animal happening to grunt, one of them was
so terrified, that he became, from that moment, uneasy, and appeared
impatient to get out of the ship. In carrying his purpose into effect,
however, he did not lose his propensity to thieving, as he seized and
endeavoured to carry off the smith’s anvil: finding that he could not
remove it, he laid hold of the large hammer, threw it on the ice, and
following it himself, deliberately set it on his sledge, and made off.”
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