2G4 APPENDIX VII, 



great distance inland, mountains and morasses, lakes and moss- 

 covered plains, are the uniform character of the country ; islands, 

 bays, and rocks, that of the coast. The chief mountains are the 

 Kiglapeit, lat. 57°, 3,500 feet high, which divides the north 

 from the south coast, and the still higher Kaumajet between 

 Okak and Hebron. The country is covered with snow and ice 

 during more than two-thirds of the year, so that the inhabitants 

 must seek their subsistence in huntingr and fishinw. The sea 

 affords many rich spoils, the most important of which is the 

 seal, of which there are five species. The flesh of these animals 

 is the chief food of the Esquimaux. From 3,000 to 4,000 of 

 them ave taken on an average in a year at our four Stations. Tt 

 is affirmed that the number of those caught along the whole 

 coast, partly in nets, partly in kayaks, exceeds a million. Their 

 number is said to be now decreasing, in consequence of which 

 more attention is paid than formerly to fishing. Cod, salmon, 

 and trout are the principal fish. The quadrupeds indigenous 

 to the country are, besides the dogs, the reindeer, bears, wolves, 

 foxes, and hares. 



The number of the Esquimaux dwelling along the coast, wliich 

 is about 500 miles in length, is computed at about 1,500, of 

 whom 1,163 belong to our Mission. There are about 200 heathen 

 living to the north of Hebron, and there are said to be others 

 scattered here and there, but their number cannot be consider- 

 able, and some are settled at the establishments of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company. In stature the Esquimaux are short, with 

 large heads, black hair, scanty beard, coarse but not stupid 

 features, and small hands and feet. The women are very clever 

 at their occupations, such as sewing skin garments or boots of 

 seal-skin, and in cleaning fish with knives of their own manu- 

 facture, with which an operation for cataract has ])een success- 

 fully performed. The men are quite at home in carpenter's 

 work, the building of their boats, &c. Most important to them 

 for procuring their livelihood is the kayak, built of wood and 

 covered with seal-skin. The larger women's boats, covered with 

 skin, which were formerly most used, are rarely seen. They 

 are replaced by boats of wood for fishing and sailing, to the 



