The National Register.
London, England, 1818-12-21 00:00:00

NORTHERN EXPEDITION.

Some pictures have been drawn by Seckheouse, the Esquimau: em-
ployed as interpreter, as a representation of his first interview with
the newly-discovered inhabitants of the northern regions. and they
described, perhaps better than he could do in words, the meeting as it
took place.
The natives are shown in their sledges, drawn by four dogs. Sack.
heouss himself is depleted on the See. setting up a pole with a flag
upon it; to which were attached some beads and other trifles, intend-
ed as conciliatory presents.
The dross of the natives contests of a skin, covering the body as
far as the loins, and breeches of the same material, fastened se as to
meet the body covering. A small space (through which the flesh is
seen) is observed in all the figures at this part, where the upper and
lower coverings meet, arising from their imperfect mode of astachiog
them to each other.
His language was sufficiently analogous to theirs, to allow of keep.
ing up a conversation with them; he tr.quired, amongst other mat-
ters, as to the onmber of their nation, but they seem either to have
no ides of numbers, or what is more probable,; no corresponding terui
by which they could reply to the inquiry.
Their general conduct gave reason to suppose that they had, like
their more fortunate discoverers. fixed principles of social eoaduct.
When chins were thrown over the vessel's side upon the ice, each
collected as much as he could, but no one appeared to infringe upon
the bundle of another. He who had gathered any little stock, seemed
to be recognized as the proprietor, although he left it to prooeed in
his further collection.
It is not very astonishing that they endeavoured to appropriate
same of the objects of wonder which they saw about the vessels, but
their very mode of attempting to pilfer was a proof that they had mot
acquired dexterity by practice.
In a few instances they took articles Sem the ship with a view to
purhoining them, but they were asteesearily unsuccessful, for they
did not understood concealment. some part of the pilfered property
being always left uncovered, and in sight.
The circumstance which excited the most attention on the part of
the discoverers, was the finding in the possession of the natives, knives,
the blade part of which was of iron.
They had already ascertained dint wood was unknown to these
newly found beings, and that the only fuel which they had. if fuel it
could be called, was a species of moss; and the use made of this
moss seemed to be conii.scd to the dipping it in oil, and burning it as
a torch or candle.
'through the medium of sickheratse, however, it was discovered
that two blocks of iron in its pure cute, situate at no great distance
from the shore, were known to the natives, and that for snaking their
knives, they hammered off pieces.' of it by meant of heavy stones.
One of vies: knives we have seen. It is tonne) of a piece of bone,
about seve.i inches long. the upper part. to which the iron is attached.
being grooved. In this groove, several irregular shaped pieces of
hen are insetted.
These appear to have been beaten So with stones. and as they
present an irregular serrated edged it should rather he called a saw
than a knife.
The bone handle smells insufferrely strong of rancid oil, from the
eatneatul state in which it has beat that, sod every common means
to discharge this taint luta been undue/usefully attempted.
We have likewise seen one of their spears. It consists of several
pieces of the horn of die sea unicorn tied together wiebtinthgs of thin
about one third from the end is a stop. for the thtirotinVrieseitst
in throwing it. Ttais. like the knife. is of the mutt
It is not even straight in its form. but is envies Ogg:
of the same o.ifensive smell as the knille-hondles ' •
Their principal food consists of birds, of which it amain thtentirs -
her is astonishing. These they eat raw. The lash itE seals anti of
the sea unicorn is also a past of th it nourishment. '

We are informed by a correspondent, but we do nut
vouch for the fact, and hope it is not well ftninded,
that Lord ltanelog,h, in consequence of a recent verdict,
and to prevent the necessity of personal attendance in
future on similar occasions, has hat) several spring guns
made, under his own direction, end of an uncommon
size, such as before were never heard of--Sun.