THE ESKIMOS. 131 



Straits, coming out from shore to meet the steamship 

 Alert, which to them was a fiery monster of mystery. 



Accompanying them was a party of men in kyacks, 

 and all were preparing to board the ship without invi- 

 tation ; but the first officer, by brandishing a cordwood 

 stick, and threatening to hurl it at them if they came 

 too near backing up the menace with the liberal use 

 of some strong English which they did not understand 

 induced them to await his convenience to receive them. 

 When the ship was past the shoals near which she 



r as steaming, and safely into harbor, the natives were 



llowed to come on board. They were an odd-looking 

 >wd, some of them curiously dressed. One old grey- 



bired chief had apparently reached a stage of civiliza- 

 :ion in his attire not common among the Eskimos, for 



itside of his seal-skin clothing he wore a long white 

 cotton nightshirt, of which he was evidently very proud. 

 The Eskimos are always pleased with the acquisition of 



r hite men's garments, but their ideas as to how and 



r hen they should be worn do not always agree with ours. 

 Early navigators have described the Eskimos as being 



bvage tribes, greatly to be feared, and it is true that 

 ifortunate crews have fallen into their hands and been 



lurdered by them; but often in such cases the fault has 

 been as much with the whites as with the poor savages. 

 They really possess very simple, childish natures, but at 

 the same time are characterized by a quiet determination 

 and deep jealousy, which, when aroused, is likely to lead 

 to acts of violence. From my own observation, I do not 

 think that the Eskimos would, without considerable 

 provocation or great temptation, harm any one falling 

 into their hands. 



