PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 395 



surprised at our refusal of this offer, and ridiculed chap. 

 our squeamishness ; and by way of convincing us <~-vw 

 what bad judges we were of good cheer, five of ^gfjf' 

 them fell to at the bowl, and with their two fore- 

 fingers very expeditiously transferred the contents 

 to their own mouths ; and cleansing their fingers 

 upon the earth, gave the vessel to one of the women. 

 The whole village then assembled, better dressed 

 than they had been on our first visit, and ranged 

 themselves in a semicircle in front of us, prepara- 

 tory to an exhibition of one of their dances, which 

 merits a description, as it was the best of the kind 

 we saw. A double ring was formed in front of 

 us by men seated upon the grass, and by women 

 and children in the background, who composed the 

 orchestra. The music at the beginning was little 

 better than a buzz of "Ungna-aya, Amna-aya!'' 

 — words which always constitute the burthen of an 

 Esquimaux song. The leader of the party, a strong 

 athletic man, jumped into the ring and threw him- 

 self into various attitudes, which would have better 

 become a pugilist than a performer on the light 

 fantastic toe ! As his motions became violent, he 

 manifested his inspiration by loud exclamations of 

 Ah ! Ah ! until he became exhausted and with- 

 drew, amidst shouts of approbation from all pre- 

 sent, and the signal was given for new performers. 

 Five younger men then leaped into the area, and 

 again exhibited feats of activity, which, considering 

 the heavy clothing that encumbered their limbs, 

 were very fair. A simple little girl about eight 

 years of age, dressed for the occasion, joined the 

 jumpers, but did not imitate their actions. Her 

 part consisted in waving her arms and inclining her 



