PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 391 



baidar, walked down to meet us with their arms 

 drawn in from their sleeves, and tucked up inside 

 their frocks. They were also very particular that August ' 

 every one of them should salute us, which they did 

 by licking their hands, and drawing them first over 

 their own faces and bodies, and then over ours. 

 This was considered the most friendly manner in 

 which they could receive us, and they were offici- 

 ously desirous of ingratiating themselves with us ; 

 but they would on no account suffer us to approach 

 their tents ; and, when we urged it, seemed deter- 

 mined to resist, even with their weapons, which 

 were carefully laid out upon a low piece of ground 

 near them. They were resolved, nevertheless, that 

 we should partake of their hospitality, and seating 

 us upon a rising ground, placed before us strips 

 of blubber in wooden bowls, and whortle berries 

 mashed up with fat and oil, or some such hetero- 

 geneous substance, for we did not taste it. Seeing 

 we would not partake of their fare, they commenced 

 a brisk traffic with dried salmon, of which we pro- 

 cured a great quantity. Generally speaking, they 

 were honest in their dealings, leaving their goods 

 with us, when they were in doubt about a bargain, 

 until they had referred it to a second person, or 

 more commonly to some of the old women. If they 

 approved of it, our offer was accepted ; if not, they 

 took back their goods. On several occasions, how- 

 ever, they tried to impose upon us with fish-skins, 

 ingeniously put together to represent a whole fish, 

 though entirely deprived of their original contents ; 

 but this artifice succeeded only once : the natives, 

 when detected in other attempts, laughed heartily, 

 and treated the matter as a fair practical joke. Their 



