TO kotzebue's sound. 191 



the ribs of* whales, and covered with the skin of 

 the morse, whicli indicate only a short stay. A deep 

 cellar dug in the earth, filled with train-oil, blubber, 

 dried seals' flesh, and morses* teeth, likewise shows 

 that they only collect their winter provisions here. 

 They gave us to understand, by signs, that their 

 real abode was behind the promontory, in the W., 

 whither they invited us. A second boat, coming 

 from the quarter pointed out, in which two women, 

 dressed like men, looked frightfully witli their 

 tattooed faces, confirmed this assertion. How 

 much did I regret not understanding their lan- 

 guage, as I should then have been able to relate 

 many interesting things concerning these people. 

 In many respects they resemble the inhabitants 

 of Norton Sound, described by Captain Cook; 

 they are of a middle stature, robust make, and 

 healthy appearance : their clothing, which consists 

 of skins, is filthy to the highest degree. My 

 Aleutian, who has passed several years in the 

 peninsula of Alashka, affirms, that there is very 

 little difference between these two people, as well 

 in their language as in other respects. We ob- 

 served several European utensils of iron and cop- 

 per. Every islander is armed with a knife, an ell 

 (two feet) long, and adorned with large blue and 

 white glass beads. 



While our naturalists were strolling about the 

 mountains, I entertained myself with my new ac- 

 quaintance, who, as soon as they learnt that I was 



