July, 

 1826. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 331 



hundred feet above the sea, were observed to be chap 

 surmounted by large fragments of rock having the 

 appearance of ruins. These hills terminate to the 

 southward and south-westward in bold rocky cliffs, 

 off which are situated three small islands ; the hills 

 have a gradual slope to the coast line to the north- 

 ward and westward ; but at the north-western ex- 

 tremity of the island they end in a remarkable 

 wedge-shaped promontory — particulars which may 

 be found useful to navigators in foggy weather. 

 The upper parts of the island were buried in snow ; 

 but the lower, as at Beering's Island, were bare and 

 overgrown with moss or grass. We stood close into 

 a small bay at the S. W. angle of the island, where 

 we perceived several tents, and where, from the 

 many stakes driven into the ground, we concluded 

 there was a fishing-station. The natives soon after- 

 wards launched four baidars,* of which each con- 

 tained eight persons, males and females. They pad- 

 dled towards the ship with great quickness, until 

 they were within speaking distance, when an old 

 man who steered the foremost boat stood erect and 

 held up in succession nets, walrus teeth, skin shirts, 

 harpoons, bows and arrows, and small birds ; he then 

 extended his arms, rubbed and patted his breast,f 

 and came fearlessly alongside. We instantly de- 

 tected in these people the features of the Esqui- 

 maux, whom in appearance and manners also, and 

 indeed in every particular, they so much resembled, 

 that there cannot, I think, be the least doubt of 



* This boat, called by the natives oomiac, is the same in every 

 respect as the oomiac, or woman boat of the Esquimaux. It is 

 here used by the men instead of by the women. 



f This is the usual Esquimaux indication of friendship. 



