e these poor untutored unprotected beings, who in
return, deemed retaliation no crime; nor in balancing the amount of
guilt would it be easy to settle which of the parties were most deeply
implicated; the one who gave trifles, or worse--beads or brandy, for
articles of real value; or the other, who secretly pilfered some
useless toys or iron implements, for which in fact they had greatly
overpaid. Both were rogues in their dealings, only the Europeans had
the advantage of superior knowledge, which enabled them to rob with
superior dexterity, and to cloak their knavery under the name of
barter.

But at this date--1766-9--the Esquimaux, from their intercourse with
their civilized neighbours, had learned to estimate the value of
European arms and vessels, and they stuck at no method by which they
might possess themselves of them, while the murders which the whites
committed with impunity, led them on every occasion that offered,
eagerly to gratify their cupidity and revenge. They accordingly
watched their opportunity; and in 1768, when the Europeans were off
their guard, killed three men and stole two boats. A battle was the
consequence, when twenty of the savages were left dead on the field,
and four women, two boys and three girls were taken prisoners, and
brought to Newfoundland. Among the women prisoners were MIKAK; one of
the boys was her son; the other, Karpik, about fifteen years of age,
had previously lost his mother, and his father fell in the engagement.
Their own story forms a remarkable episode in the history of the
mission. These three were sent to England, where they were treated
with much kindness.

Mikak, who seems to have been a person of very superior understanding,
was noticed by many of the nobility, and particularly by the Princess
Dowager of Wales, mother to George III; but nothing could overcome her
love for her native land, or erase from her mind the deep sense she
entertained of the sufferings of her kindred. We are not furnished
with the facts of the case, but it appears sufficiently plain, that
from all she saw in England, and during the time of her captivity,
that she discerned and appreciated the immense superiority of the
Europeans over the Esquimaux, and was extremely anxious to return
home, and, if possible, carry with her the means of their
amelioration. Providentially Jans Haven came to England in 1769 for
the purpose of endeavouring to renew the mission, and meeting with
Mikak, she imm