118 Dr King on the Industrial Arts of (he Esquimaux. 



well to take a lesson from these " children of the chase/' for 

 the most accomplished furrier sinks insignificantly before 

 them, so tastefully are the various coloured skins of the 

 country worked by them into articles of apparel. Thus the 

 dark and mottled fur of the seal is placed in the centre of 

 the back or breast of the dress, while the lighter shades are 

 on the sides ; in the sleeves the fore and back piece are often 

 of two colours, and the cuffs of a different hue, each of the 

 numerous varieties of seal affording a peculiar skin, which 

 enables them to arrange the most opposite and glossy colours 

 in the same habit ; and at the parts of the body where it is 

 necessary to have protection from cold there are no seams, 

 therefore no crannies for the entry of the weather. In order, 

 however, to unfold and fully appreciate the ingenuity of the 

 people in this respect, the dress must be turned inside out, 

 and personally inspected. 



The coats are of three kinds, one for the winter, one 

 for the summer, and one as an over-all in wet weather, 

 and in shape somewhat resemble a shirt without its front 

 opening, with a large hood attached, which is drawn over 

 the head at pleasure. This is bordered with the white 

 fur of the deer, and thus presents a lively contrast to the 

 dark face which it encircles. The front or belly part of 

 the coat is cut off square with the upper part of the legs ; 

 but behind, it is formed into a broad skirt, rounded at the 

 lower end, which reaches to within a few inches of the ground. 

 Many of the jackets, and particularly those of the females, 

 are lined with the skins of birds.* The lower edges and tails 

 of the dresses are in some cases bordered with bands of fur 

 of an opposite colour to the body, and it is a favourite orna- 

 ment to hang a fringe of little strips of skin beneath the 

 border, which has a very pleasing appearance. The hood of 

 the coat worn by the women is comparatively of immense 

 size, which, as well as a covering for the head, answers the 

 purpose of an infant's cradle for two or three years. At the 

 shoulders is a wide bag-like space to afford room for the 

 child, and to facilitate its removal from the hood to the breast 

 without taking it out of the jacket,t and in front, instead of 



* Kotzebue. f Parry. 



