5 o Cruise of the "Alert" 



p. 176) to the practice of frequently sitting on the heels, with the 

 legs flexed to a maximum. 



Some of the emotions are expressed by very decided contortions 

 of the features and limbs. Delight, when intense, is shown by a 

 display of the closed teeth, accompanied by a clucking sound, and 

 a curious up and down bobbing motion 'of the body. Eagerness 

 is expressed by a clucking sound and a frothing of the lips. 

 Anger is characterised by a tightening of the upper lip, a pro- 

 trusion of the lower jaw or mandible, and a slight display of the 

 upper incisors. 



The men are almost entirely naked, sometimes wearing a 

 square piece of sealskin suspended from the neck, and hanging 

 over either shoulder. This seems to be intended as a sort of 

 weather screen ; but, strangely enough, it is one of the first things 

 parted with when a chance of bartering occurs. Although so 

 careless about protecting their bodies against the rigour of the 

 weather, it was nevertheless evident that they were keenly sensible 

 to the cold ; for they were frequently to be seen with their teeth 

 chattering, and trembling from head to foot, as the rain, wind, 

 and spray swept over their unprotected skins. The women 

 generally have a large skin mantle, which they wear with the hair 

 turned outwards. Those with infants carry the child in a pouch 

 between the shoulders ; but those not so burdened readily part 

 with their only covering for a plug of tobacco. That these 

 people should attach any value to tobacco is difficult to under- 

 stand ; for not only are they unprovided with native pipes in 

 which to smoke it, but, as far as we could judge, they had never 

 enjoyed sufficient opportunities of doing so to render the process 

 anything but highly unpleasant, although its anticipation undoubt- 

 edly afforded them great pleasure. In fact, one or two whiffs of 

 smoke were sufficient to put a man into the nauseated and giddy 

 condition familiar to every schoolboy when he makes his first 

 trial of tobacco. 



Although the dress of the women is, as I have mentioned, far 



