NATIVES OF GREENLAND. ()> 



accident or design, ventured across Behring's Straits,* which, 

 considering their surprising dexterity in the management 

 of their httle boats, was not at all difficult to effect. Be- 

 sides, on an expedition of this nature they are never un- 

 employed. The ice, which covers that Strait at certain 

 times, serves as a place of repose to the seals, which may 

 be truly termed the live stock of the Greenlander. These 

 animals, therefore, in the course of the expedition, become 

 a certain resource against famine ; as every part of the 

 seal is turned to account — the very intestines being usefully 

 employed by way of floats attached to the darts. The 

 women, too, who are never left behind when a removal is 

 carried on, will, during such a voyage, convert the seal 

 or bird skins into convenient dresses, so that this little 

 roving tribe are seldom at a loss, the sea supplying all their 

 wants. Should an extensive field of ice present itself, 

 they at once get out of their boats, each man takes his 

 kaiak on his head ; the women must look after their 

 umiak (the names of the fishing and family boats) ; and, 

 in this manner they traverse immense fields of ice, which 

 saves the labour of paddling round them, and of course, 

 shortens their journey very considerably. Such is their 

 patience under toil, when seated in their boats upon their 

 favourite element, that they usually perform the distance 



* Behring, in his voyage, found the small islands lying across the Straits 

 peopled by Esquimeaux, for such they appeared by their dress and manners. 



K 



