MY ESQUIMAU PEOPLE. 273 



might have the water for a venison-soup, of which she 

 invited us to stay and partake. I knew by former 

 experience too well the nature of the Esquimau cui- 

 sine to make me anxious to learn further, so I plead 

 business, and left them to enjoy themselves in their 

 own way. How long they kept up their feast I did 

 not learn, but when Kalutunah came over next morn 

 ing, he informed me that there was no more venison 

 in the hut at Etah, — a hint which was not thrown 

 away. 



My Esquimau people now numbered seventeen 

 souls ; namely, six men, four women, and seven chil- 

 dren; and they presented as many different shades 

 of character and usefulness. The inconveniences to 

 which they subjected us were amply compensated for 

 by the sewing which the wives of Kalutunah and 

 Tcheitchenguak did for us ; for, in spite of all our in- 

 genuity and patience, there was no one in the ship's 

 company who could make an Esquimau boot, and this 

 boot is the only suitable covering for the foot in the 

 Arctic regions. Of the men, Hans was the most use- 

 ful ; for, in spite of his objectionable qualities, he was, 

 Jensen excepted, my best hunter. Kalutunah came 

 on board daily, and, as a privileged guest, he sought 

 me in my cabin. My journey over to Etah made him 

 supremely happy ; for, like the sound of coming bat- 

 tle to the warrior who has long reposed in peace, a 

 new life was put into him when I offered him the care 

 of one of my newly acquired teams. He came on 

 board the next morning and took charge of the dogs ; 

 and when, a few days afterward, I further exhibited 

 my confidence in him by sending him down to Cape 

 Alexander to see if the ice was firm, the cup of his 

 joy was full to the brim. 



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