256 ARRIVAL OF ESQUIMAUX. 



team for one sledge. They were therefore of little 

 use ; and it became clear that, unless I obtained a 

 fresh supply from the Esquimaux, any plan of sledge 

 exploration which I might form must depend wholly 

 upon the men for its execution. Men, instead of dogs, 

 must drag the sledges. 



The Esquimaux had disappointed me by not com- 

 ing up to Etah ; and, February having almost passed 

 jiway without bringing reinforcements from that quar- 

 ter, I had quite given up the expectation of seeing 

 them, when a party of three arrived most oppor- 

 tunely. This gave me new encouragement; for, al- 

 though I could not hope to replace the fine teams 

 which I had lost, yet there was still a prospect of 

 some much-needed assistance. 



The Esquimau party comprised three individuals, 

 all of whom I had known before. Their names were 

 Kalutunah, Tattarat, and Myouk. Kalutunah was, in 

 1854, the best hunter of the tribe, and was, besides, 

 the Angekok, or priest. He was not slow to tell me 

 that he had since advanced to the dignity of chielj or 

 Nalegak, an office which, however, gave him no au- 

 thority, as the Esquimaux are each a law unto him- 

 self, and they submit to no control. The title is 

 about as vague as that of " Defender of the Faith ; " 

 and the parallel is not altogether bad, for if this latter 

 did originate in a Latin treatise about the " Seven 

 Sacraments," it was perpetuated by a sharp sword ; 

 and so the title chief, or Nalegak as they call it, is the 

 compliment paid to the most skillful hunter, and his 

 title is perpetuated by skill in the use of a sharp har- 

 poon. 



The excellence of Kalutunah's hunting equipments 

 — his strong lines and lances and harpoons, his fine 



