ACROSS PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEHRING SEA 51 



Eskimos were no better to trade with up here than they had 

 been further south. We bought in all six dogs at Point Hope, 

 at an average price of $8.99, though for one particularly fine 

 dog we paid $18.40. The price of the dogs was higher, but 



NATIVES AND SUMMER TENT AT POINT HOPE. 



on the other hand the animals were better-looking than the 

 ones we bought at St. Lawrence Island. 



Neither was our trading outfit particularly well adapted to 

 the wants of the people in this place, as they had knives, 

 needles, etc., and wanted only provisions. Upon the whole 

 we found that all along the Arctic coast cheap and rough food 

 was the chief trading article, and that we could get much more 

 for provisions as trade than for anything else. We could not 

 well afford to sell any of our own provisions, but we were bound 

 to have dogs, and owing to the fact that only one whaler had 

 been here that year, the Eskimos were almost out of food ; 

 consequently flour, sugar, beans, coffee, and tea were the 

 trading articles which they really valued. 



Mr. Leffingwell, Dr. Howe, and myself went ashore the day 



E 2 



