PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 267 



would scarcely submit it to examination, and after- 

 wards carefully concealed it within her dress. She 

 was apparently very modest and bashful, and behaved 

 with so much propriety that it was a pleasure to find 

 such sentiments existing beneath so uncouth an ex- 

 terior. 



Upon the low point at the entrance of the inner 

 harbour, called Nooke by the natives, there were 

 some Esquimaux fishermen, who reminded us of a 

 former ac{[uaintance at Chamisso Island, and saluted 

 us so warmly that we felt sorry their recollection had 

 not entirely failed them. They appeared to have 

 established themselves upon the point for the purpose 

 of catching and drying fish; and from the number of 

 salmon that were leaping in the channel, we should have 

 thought they would have been more successful. They 

 had, however, been fortunate in taking plenty of cod^ 

 and some species of salmon trout : they had also 

 caught some herrings. 



We were also recognised by a party from the 

 southern shores of the harbour, who, the preceding 

 year, had extended their fishing excursions from this 

 place to Kotzebue Sound. These were some of the 

 most cleanly and well-dressed people we had seen 

 any where on the coast. Their residence was at King- 

 a-ghe — a place which, judging from the respectability 

 of its inhabitants, whom we had seen elsewhere, 

 must be of importance among the Esquimaux estab- 

 lishments upon this coast. 



These two ports, situated so near Beering's Strait, 

 may at some future time be of great importance to 

 navigation, as they will be found particularly useful by 

 vessels which may not wish to pass the strait in bad 

 weather. To the outer harbour, which for conve- 

 nience and security surpasses any other near Beering's 



