Prince of Wales Sound. 79 



more than any one else, became their hero. They watched the per- 

 formance of the erection of the buildings in wonder and amazement, 

 giving utterance to peculiar sounds, expressive of their pleasure 

 and surprise as the structures were sheeted in ; but when the rafters 

 were put into position, and the roof was taking shape, their astonish- 

 ment knew no bounds. It was an achievement beyond the power 

 of their imaginations, and they were overcome with the wonders of 

 the white people. 



We visited their camp, about three or four miles away, and 

 obtained some skins of the reindeer and the seal, and had the 

 pleasure of some broken conversations with them. I began to study 

 the Eskimo language, and succeeded in commanding a few words, 

 and in making myself partly understood. 



I had in my hands a Snyder rifle, which attracted the admira- 

 tion of a young hunter. I allowed him to examine it, and remarked, 

 "oonla-ko-olik," which means, " It is a rifle." He was greatly pleased 

 with the idea that I could speak his tongue, and went into a rigma- 

 role of gibberish of which I understood nothing, and to which I 

 responded : " Ontuke," which is, " I do not understand." Then his 

 countenance dropped, but to revive him I said : " Ki-chin-a-coma," 

 which is, " I will give you tobacco." His smiles returned, and ex- 

 tending one hand he waited anxiously, for all Eskimos love tobacco. 

 Exhibiting the tobacco, I asked, " kito-ma-shima-yuk ? " This 

 demand for deer skin brought another cloud to his face, but after 

 a moment's pause he shouted out, " ko-le-tuk," meaning a woman's 

 dress of deer skin. He exhibited two of these, made of beautifully 

 dressed skins, with shoulder hoods for papoose, and the inevitable 

 long tails, the only distinguishing mark between the dress of the 

 men and that of the women. He laid them on the ground, and I 

 placed four plugs of black tobacco near by and asked, "Oonah, 

 oomung de ? " or, " will you take this for that ? " He nodded assent 

 and the trade was over, but not until his exclamation of " Match-a- 

 mic," had softened me to the extent of one card of matches. 



I then asked for " poyea," or seal skin. He brought from his 

 bag of the same material four large skins, and the same performance 

 was repeated. I obtained them for four mean little black plugs of 



