Three Voyages for the Discovery of a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and Narrative of an Attempt to Reach the North Pole, Volume 1Parry, William Edward, Sir
History
Three Voyages for the Discovery of a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and Narrative of an Attempt to Reach the North Pole, Volume 1
Parry, William Edward, Sir
Arctic regions; Northwest Passage; Parry, William Edward, Sir, 1790-1855
about eight years of age, quite an idiot, deaf and dumb from his
birth, and squinting most horribly with both eyes.
Finding that these poor creatures were now really in want of food,
for the men had again returned from an unsuccessful excursion, I
was happy to avail myself of a hint given to me by Captain Lyon,
to furnish them occasionally with a small supply of bread-dust, of
which we had two or three casks in each ship. Our present party
was therefore, in addition to other articles, supplied with
several pounds, which they immediately expressed their intention
to take home to their children. Several of them visited the ships
as usual on the 9th, and among the rest Ka-oong-ut and his son
Toolooak. The old gentleman was not a favourite with us, being the
only one who had yet begun to tease us by constant begging. We had
often expressed displeasure at this habit, which, after a day or
two's acquaintance, began to be extremely troublesome; but I had
to-day to take cognizance of his stealing a nail, of which I
determined to take a rather serious notice, as it might otherwise
lead to more extensive theft. I therefore collected all the other
Esquimaux who were on board, and having in their presence
expressed great indignation at this conduct, turned the offender
away in disgrace. Some of those best acquainted with us were
afterward taken into the cabin, where our sentiments were more
fully explained to them. Among these I was not sorry to have
Toolooak and Iligliuk, who would not fail to report at the huts
all our proceedings, but who did not appear to consider themselves
in the slightest degree implicated in their father's offence, or
concerned in his disgrace. The people of the huts being much in
want of food, we again distributed some bread-dust among them;
taking care to send a portion to the infirm old man, _Hik-k~ei-~er=
a_, by _Ok~otook_, the husband of Iligliuk, a fine, active, manly
fellow of about two-and-thirty, who, as we were pleased to find the
next day, had punctually executed his commission.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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