Their limits are built of blocks of snow, and arched, having an ice pane for a window.They construct their arched entrance and their hemispherical roof on the true principles of architecture.Those wise men, the Egyptians, made their arch by hewing the stones out of shape; the Esquimaux have the true secret.Here they are, with little food in winter and great appetites; devouring a whole walrus when they get it, and taking the chance of hunger for the next eight dayshungry or full, for ever happy in their lothere are the Esquimaux.They are warmly clothed, each in a double suit of skins sewn neatly together.Some are singing, with good voices too.
Please them, and they straightway dance; activity is good in a cold climate: Play to them on the flute, or if you can sing well, sing, or turn a barrel-organ, they are mute, eager with wonder and delight; their love of music is intense.Give them a pencil, and, like children, they will draw.Teach them and they will learn, oblige them and they will be grateful."Gentle and loving savages,"one of our old worthies called them, and the Portuguese were so much impressed with their teachable and gentle conduct, that a Venetian ambassador writes, "His serene majesty contemplates deriving great advantage from the country, not only on account of the timber of which he has occasion, but of the inhabitants, who are admirably calculated for labour, and are the best I have ever seen." The Esquimaux, of course, will learn vice, and in the region visited by whale ships, vice enough has certainly been taught him.Here are the dogs, who will eat old coats, or anything; and, near the dwellings, here is a snow-buntingrobin redbreast of the Arctic lands.A party of our sailors once, on landing, took some sticks from a large heap, and uncovered the nest of a snow-bunting with young, the bird flew to a little distance, but seeing that the men sat down, and harmed her not, continued to seek food and supply her little ones, with full faith in the good intentions of the party.
Captain Lyon found a child's grave partly uncovered, and a snow-bunting had built its nest upon the infant's bosom.
