pen to have no near
relatives, their fate, as we have already seen, is still worse than
this.

I fear we cannot give a very favourable account of the chastity of the
women, nor of the delicacy of their husbands in this respect. As for the
latter, it was not uncommon for them to offer their wives as freely for
sale as a knife or a jacket. Some of the young men informed us that,
when two of them were absent together on a sealing excursion, they often
exchanged wives for the time, as a matter of friendly convenience; and,
indeed, without mentioning any other instances of this nature, it may
safely be affirmed, that in no country is prostitution carried to
greater lengths than among these people. The behaviour of most of the
women when their husbands were absent from the huts, plainly evinced
their indifference towards them, and their utter disregard of connubial
fidelity. The departure of the men was usually the signal for throwing
aside restraint, which was invariably resumed on their return. For this
event they take care to be prepared by the report of the children, one
of whom is usually posted on the outside for the purpose of giving due
notice.

The affection of parents for their children was frequently displayed by
these people, not only in the mere passive indulgence, and abstinence
from corporeal punishment, for which Esquimaux have before been
remarked, but by a thousand playful endearments also, such as parents
and nurses practise in our own country. Nothing, indeed, can well exceed
the kindness with which they treat their children, and this trait in
their character deserves to be the more insisted on, because it is, in
reality, the only very amiable one which they possess. It must be
confessed, indeed, that the gentleness and docility of the children are
such as to occasion their parents little trouble, and to render severity
towards them quite unnecessary. Even from their earliest infancy they
possess that quiet disposition, gentleness of demeanour, and uncommon
evenness of temper, for which, in more mature age, they are for the most
part distinguished. Disobedience is scarcely ever known; a word or even
a look from a parent is enough; and I never saw a single instance of
that frowardness and disposition to mischief which, with our youth, so
often requires the whole attention of a parent to watch over and to
correct. They never cry from trifling accidents, and sometimes not even
from very severe hurts, at whi