106 CEUISE OF STEAMFR OORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



ing made me tbe hero of the hour, I was patted on the back by the men and smiled at by the 

 women, while the children looked on admiringly, and all muttered " Nekouruclc" (good) between the 

 bites of blubber. 



The spear used for killing whales consists of a head either of ivory or stone, the former some- 

 times pointed with a bit of iron or copper. The handle is of wood and about 6 feet in length, and 

 to it is attached a float or seal-skin poke. A number of these spears being thrown into a whale, 

 the floats prevent his going far below the surface and enable the natives to keep track of and be 

 on hand to kill him when he comes up to breathe. The oomiac used for whaling is somewhat 

 narrower than those used ordinarily for traveling. It contains nothing but the spears and lances 

 and other necessary appliances for killing whales. They seldom go out to hunt for whales, but 

 keep the oomiac in readiness and put out when one is seen from the shore. A sharp lookout is 

 kept at all times and on the low coasts in the vicinity of Icy Cape. They have lookout poles 15 

 or 20 feet high, from which a more extended view is had. At Point Barrow a number of oomiacs 

 were seen fitted out with all the modern appliances for killing whales — harpoons and lances 

 of the best make, manila line, &c. These were taken from whale-ships which had been wrecked 

 along that coast. 



The kyacks in use among the Innuits, although differing somewhat according to location, are 

 alike in all the essential points and are marvels of speed and beauty. They are composed of a 

 light frame of wood entirely covered with seal .or young walrus hide, with the exception of a 

 round hole in the top, in which the native sits to paddle or spear game. It is nearly straight on 

 top, sets low in the water, and is sharp at both ends. The Aleutian islanders use a kyack with 

 two and even three holes. These, however, were invented by the Russians for their own conven- 

 ience in traveling among the islands, and are not characteristic of the natives, as supposed by Dr. 

 Rink. 



Knives are very generally worn by the Innuits. Some are worn at the belt and others in a 

 sheath secured to the thigh. Many of them are of native manufacture and are finely tempered, 

 but as a rule they are bought from traders. In Kotzebue Sound we saw knives bearing the name 

 and trade-marks of English manufacturers. These had been purchased from the English trading 

 post on the Mackenzie River. The knife is ground on one side only, like a carpenter's chisel. A 

 small stone for sharpening the knife is usually attached to the belt. The knife being worn under 

 the al-le-ghe can be produced at any time without attracting attention by withdrawing the arm 

 from the sleeve and taking the knife from the belt, so that when the hand reappears in the sleeve 

 it holds the knife. Revolvers are drawn in the same manner, and good ones of various patterns 

 are not at all scarce among them. Fortunate it is that these people are good-natured and not 

 inclined to quarrel, for armed as they are and knowing no law, they would be exceedingly trouble- 

 some. In the few instances where trouble has occurred between Innuits and white men, it appears 

 to have been the fault of the latter. 



The Point Barrow natives gave Lieutenant Maguire, of the Royal Navy, some trouble while 

 wintering there in the Plover in 1851-'52, but it seems to have been more from a spirit of mischief 

 on the part of the natives than anything else. They mistook Maguire's forbearance for cowardice. 

 In his anxiety to conciliate them, and secure their friendship for any of the Franklin party, or other 

 white men who might come after, many offenses were overlooked. Then the contempt of the 

 Innuits was incurred by firing blank cartridges. This was mistaken for bad marksmanship, and 

 "had not the effect of dispersing them as had been expected." In Lieutenant Maguire's interest- 

 ing account of his experience there, after referring to some of the pranks played by their torment- 

 ors on shore, he says : 



A more serious affair took place on board the ship. The officer iu charge, Mr. Hull, secoud master, in keeping back 

 a large, powerful fellow that attempted to force his way over the side, had a knife drawn on him by a friend of the 

 others on board the ship, who immediately called out for the women and children to retire. Mr. Simpson, the surgeon, 

 was standing near, and very soou produced before the man with the knife one of Colt's revolving pistols, and 

 explained to him the use of six charges, which had the effect of keeping them very quiet for the remainder of the day. 



The dog, the only animal domesticated by the Innuits, fills an important place in their domestic 

 economy. In their nature and appearance these animals are exceedingly wolfish, and although 

 they have been domesticated and used as draft animals since the Innuits first became known to 



