Prince of Wales Sound. 



made husband was to succeed the old chief as head man over this 

 scattered population. A few questions revealed sufficient romance 

 to make the wedding very interesting. I cannot vouch for the 

 truthfulness of the narrative, but, pretty much as I received it, it is 

 given to you in the following measure : — 



Nestled in rocks of gneiss, 

 Formed while chaos-gloom yet shrouded earth, 

 And sheltered by eternal snow-crowned cliffs, 

 The placid waters of the cove, by not 

 One ripple stirred, bore on their liquid breast 

 Kayaks, trimmed out with spears and gaffs and hooks, 

 A guard of honour due the pair made one 

 In bonds unsanctified by rite of church or creed. 



The whale-boat had, by generous loan, or from 



The loaner's wish to foster trade, contained, 



Besides the tawny brave and blushing bride, 



Seated aft on skins of Polar bear, four more 



Strong bending to the oars. Her jacket was 



Of seal, the tail bedecked with finer furs 



Contrasting shades and colours gay — not wide, 



But pennant-shaped, and further trimmed with strips 



Of feathered skins of Arctic birds of white 



And shades of every hue. Of raven black 



Her hair in braids hung down upon her breast, 



And falling back, trailed in the liquid blue. 



Her head was bare ; nor was the use of veil 



Indulged, nor decorations grand, except 



A neatly-twisted wreath, extending from 



Her forehead back, of Arctic poppies bright, 



And freshly gathered from the rocky shore. 



Her hands ungloved ; her feet in boots of seal ; 



Her neck was girt about with ivory balls 



And balls of latrobite, strung on a thread 



Of skin, and from it, on her throbbing breast, 



Hung down a cross, hewn from a tusk, — 



A cross without a meaning to the bride, 



But patterned from the pictures left 



By sailors, who for furs had traded them. 



Her charms had famed her in a hundred camps. 

 And far and wide her name, on native tongues, 

 In words of praise and boast was spoken oft. 

 A princess of a royal line of chiefs, 

 An heir to idleness and ease, with right 



