OF THE POLAR SEA. 



263 



Akaitcho for the purpose of sending two of his hunters to join this 

 party on its route. 



On comparing the language of our two Esquimaux with a copy of 

 St. John's Gospel, printed for the use of the Moravian Missionary 

 Settlements on the Labrador coast, it appeared that the Esquimaux 

 who resort to Churchill speak a language essentially the same with 

 those who frequent the Labrador coast. The Ked Knives, too, re- 

 cognise the expression Teyma, used by the Esquimaux when they 

 accost strangers in a friendly manner, as similarly pronounced by 

 Augustus, and those of his race who frequent the mouth of the 

 Copper-Mine River. 



The tribe to which Augustus belongs resides generally a little to 

 the northward of Churchill. In the spring, before the ice quits the 

 shores, they kill seal, but during winter they frequent the borders of 

 the large lakes near the coast, where they obtain fish, rein-deer, and 

 musk-oxen. 



There are eighty-four grown men in the tribe, only seven of whom 

 are aged. Six Chiefs have in general two wives ; the rest of the men 

 have only one, so that the number of married people may amount 

 to one hundred and seventy. He could give me no certain data 

 whereby I might estimate the number of children. 



Two great Chiefs, or Ackhait/oot, have complete authority in di- 

 recting the movements of the party, and in distributing provisions. 

 The Attooganceuck, or lesser Chiefs, are respected principally as 

 senior men. They seldom suffer from want of food, if the Chief 

 moves to the different stations at the proper season. The Esqui- 

 maux seem to follow the eastern custom respecting marriage. As 

 soon as a girl is born, the young lad who wishes to have her for a 

 wife goes to her father's tent, and proffers himself. If accepted, a 

 promise is given which is considered binding, and the girl is deli- 

 vered to her betrothed husband at the proper age. 



They consider their progenitors to have come from the moon. 



