38 VISITED BY ESQUIMAUX. 



that moment moderating, between twenty and 

 thirty Keiyaks and three Oomiaks came up with 

 their noisy owners vociferating their accustomed 

 " Tima" or " Chimo," and " pilletay," till we 

 could scarcely hear each other's voices. These 

 were clearly apart of the Saddleback Esquimaux, 

 and began their traffic with the advantage of 

 practised traders, determined to make the best 

 of the market, Accordingly, no device or cun- 

 ning was left untried by them ; and in this re- 

 spect, at all events, it must fairly be confessed, 

 that they proved their superiority. They began 

 by offering the most trifling articles first, such as 

 seal-skin mittens and boots, of which many had 

 already seen service, and some were actually 

 patched; one pair of mittens particularly with old 

 blue cloth, which, however, the eager purchaser did 

 not perceive. When they were detected, their loud 

 laughter showed how greatly they enjoyed the 

 joke. Neither could they be prevailed upon to 

 part with bags of oil, or any thing else of real 

 value without something better in return than 

 the old iron hoop, which was all that 1 would 

 permit to be offered in exchange. The women, 

 in particular, were more outrageous than I had 

 ever observed before, for besides disposing of 

 their garments, which they never hesitated to do, 

 more than one actually offered to barter their 

 children for a few needles. In the rest of their 



