July, 1857. ESQUIMAUX BOATS CREW. 



15 



long, very narrow, and flat at the bottom. The crew con- 

 sisted of six smartly dressed young women, — hence, I sup- 

 pose, the Esquimaux name of Oomiak, or woman's boat ; — and 

 the coxswain, or pilot, was a sedate old man, whose patience 

 must often have been sorely tried by these frisky damsels. 



Esquimaux matrons remain at home attending to household 

 affairs. The men and lads employ themselves in hunting 

 and fishing — they are too dignified and lazy to labour in 

 rowing ; — so it is amongst the disposable young women one 

 must look for a boat's crew, and it seemed to us that the 

 worthy inspector had selected the belles of the place. The 

 difficulty of discipline amongst them once got over, boating 

 in South Greenland may be pleasant enough; we naturally re- 

 garded such a boat and boat's crew as an interesting novelty, 

 and were immensely amused by observing the amount of 

 coquettishness, combined with very graceful skill, which 

 these emulous rowers contrived to display upon this rare and 

 fitting occasion, — the Governor's State visit to the ' Fox' ! 



The Governor in his Oomiak 



