PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 405 



was wanting to render their situation comfortable. 

 No better idea could have been conveyed to us of 

 the truly independent manner in which this tribe isle 

 wander about from place to place, transporting their 

 houses, and every thing necessary to their comfort, 

 than that which was afforded on this occasion. Nor 

 were we less struck with the number of articles 

 which their ingenuity finds the means of disposing 

 in their boats, and which, had we not seen them 

 disembarked, we should have doubted the possibility 

 of their having been crammed into them. From 

 two of these they landed fourteen persons, eight 

 tent poles, forty deer skins, two kyacks, many hun- 

 dred weight of fish, numerous skins of oil, earthen 

 jars for cooking, two living foxes, ten large dogs, 

 bundles of lances, harpoons, bows and arrows, a 

 quantity of whalebone, skins full of clothing, some 

 immense nets made of hide for taking small whales 

 and porpoises, eight broad planks, masts, sails, pad- 

 dles, &c, besides sea-horse hides and teeth, and a 

 variety of nameless articles always to be found among 

 the Esquimaux. 



They received us in the most friendly and open 

 manner, and their conduct throughout was so dif- 

 ferent from that of their predecessors, that had we 

 had no proof of the latter being guilty of the theft 

 on our flour, this difference of conduct would have 

 afforded a strong presumption against them. The 

 party consisted of two families, each of which had 

 its distinct property, tents, baidar, &c. They were 

 in feature and language nearly connected with the 

 King-a-ghee party, and from what they told us re- 

 sided near them ; but to judge from their dresses 

 and establishment they were of much lower condi- 



