264 ESQUIMAUX WINTER HAMLET. 



banks, between King and Sabine Points. They were 

 from twenty to forty feet high, and their summits at 

 least a hmidred above the sea, conical in form, and 

 pierced with innumerable swallow-holes. Placed 

 where they could be of no use to any people, too far 

 removed from the sea, and too regular in form to 

 have been recently shaped by its action, they were a 

 complete paradox; and I could conceive no cause, 

 natural or artificial, for their existence in this spot, 

 unless, as their substance was mud and very fine 

 black mould, they were formed by deposit from suc- 

 cessive land-slips, in succeeding spring seasons, upon 

 the melting of the snows. I had not, unfortunately, 

 time for minute notice of these remarkable objects, as 

 the boats and my comrades were already far in 

 advance, and I was forced to follow in haste. 



We landed in the evening near Sabine Point, and 

 found here an Esquimaux winter hamlet, built of 

 drift-wood and sods. It was at present only tenanted 

 by females of all ages and very young boys, the men 

 being all absent on fishing and hunting excursions. 

 The younger ladies, some of whom were prettily- 

 featured and of tolerable figure, lent their assistance to 

 haul the boats upon the beach ; nor was theirs trifling 

 aid ; for, reared in unremitting toil, they are strong 

 and hardy enough ; nor does their vigour appear to 



