he ships, and we took
the opportunity of getting them to go through the process of
building a snow hut for our amusement and information. From the
quickness with which they completed this, our surprise at the
sudden appearance of their village ceased; as we now saw that two
or three hours would be more than sufficient to complete the whole
establishment just as we at first found it. They were then taken
on board, and derived great amusement from our organ, and from
anything in the shape of music, singing, or dancing, of all which
they are remarkably fond. Nor can I here omit a striking instance
of the honesty of these people which occurred to-day. Some of the
gentlemen of the Hecla had purchased two of their dogs, which had
the preceding evening made their escape and returned to the huts.
After the departure of the Esquimaux to-day, we were surprised to
find that they had left two dogs carefully tied up on board the
Fury, which, on inquiry, proved to be the animals in question, and
which had been thus faithfully restored to their rightful owners.

On the 5th a number of the natives came on board, according to
promise, to rebuild the hut in a more substantial manner, and to
put a plate of ice into the roof, as a window, which they did with
great quickness as well as care, several of the women cheerfully
assisting in the labour. The men seemed to take no small pride in
showing in how expeditious and workmanlike a manner they could
perform this; and the hut, with its outer passage, was soon
completed. From this time they were in the constant habit of
coming freely to the ships; and such as it was not always
convenient to admit usually found very profitable employment in
examining the heaps of ashes, sand, and other rubbish on the
outside, where their trouble was well repaid by picking up small
scraps of tin or iron. All that they found in this manner we
allowed them to consider as their lawful property; but were very
particular in preventing their handling anything on board without
permission.

The wolves had now begun to do us some damage; for not even the
sails that were fastened round the house and observatory could
escape their ravenous fangs, and they had thus, in the course of a
single night, much injured two of our studding-sails. We set traps
for them on the ice, and also large shark-hooks, secured with
chains and baited with meat; but the former they entered and
destroyed, and the latter was always found broke