144 ACCOUNT OF THE AUCTIC REGIONS. 



disposed along the coast. Drift-wood is often met 

 with, and used for the same purpose. The hunters 

 defend themselves fyoni the rigour of the frost, by a 

 covering made of skin, over which they wear a gar- 

 ment called kiis/uj, made of the skin of rein-deer, 

 with boots of the same. A warm cap called a 

 trucchy, defends the whole head and neck, and part 

 of the face ; and gloves of sheep-skin, the hands. 

 They seldom travel far in winter ; but the short 

 excursions they have occasion to make, they per- 

 form on foot, on snow skaits, and di*aw their food 

 after them on hand-sledges ; but such as have dogs, 

 employ them in this service. If surprised with a 

 gale of wind, accompanied by snow drifts, when out 

 of shelter, tiie traveller is obliged to lie down, cover- 

 ing himself with his kusliy and his sledge, as well 

 as he is able, until the hurricane is over ; but when 

 it continues for any length of time, the poor wretch 

 often perishes *. 



Inured to cold, as these hunters are, they seldom 

 suffer much from its effects. And they are never 

 prevented by cold from going abroad, though the 

 accumulation of snow about their huts, and the fury 

 of storms, sometimes confine them to their dwell- 

 ings. They make a point of taking exercise in the 

 air, for the prevention of the scurvy ; so that v*^hen 

 they cannot with safety or convenience walk about, 

 they exercise themselves by throwing the snow off 



' Col. Beaufoy's Queries, Nos. 11, 14, 15, l6, 11, & 21. 



