TUBNEB.] THE HABITS OF THE INDIANS. 183 



his way to Loudon. On learning of the conduct of the jjeople he gave 

 them a sound rating and besought them to relinqui.sh the practice. 

 They assented, and sent the second wives away until the missionary 

 was out of the country, and then they took them back. 



Girls are often taken as wives before they attain puberty, and for this 

 reason they seldom have large families. Two, three, or four children 

 form the usual number for each family. They are satisfied if the first 

 child is a male; and to the mother who delivers only female children a 

 term of contempt is often applied. The women appear to be well 

 treated, and occasional laxity of morals is not noticed among them so 

 long as it is not notorious. 



Their beliefs and traditions were not learned by me, on account of the 

 presence of these people at Port Chimo when other labors occupied my 

 entire time. 



Their purchases are made with furs of the same kinds as those pro- 

 cured in the Ungava district. The black bear is procured in great 

 numbers by these Indians. They preserve the under lip, dressed and 

 ornamented with beads ami strips of cloth, as a trophy of their prowess. 



The harpoon used in striking the white whale of their rivers is an 

 implement doubtless peculiar to those people, and much resembles that 

 of the Innuit. 



(3) The third division of Indians includes those dwelling for the 

 most part in the Ungava district. The total number of these Indians 

 is about 350. They apply the term Ne ne not — true, ideal men — 

 to themselves, although known by the epithet Naskopie, which was 

 applied to them by the Mountaineers of the southeastern portion of the 

 region. 



They differ slightly in customs from their neighbors, but their speech 

 is somewhat different, being very rapidly uttered and with most sin- 

 gular inflections of the voice. A conversation may be begun in the 

 usual tone, and in a moment changed to that of a whining or petulant 

 child. It is impossible for the white man to imitate this abrupt inflec- 

 tion, which appears to be more common among the males than the 

 females. During ordinary conversation one would erroneously sup- 

 pose, from the vehemence of gesture, that the speaker was angry. 

 They are much more demonstrative than their neighbors, often shout- 

 ing at the full strength of their voices when an ordinary tone would 

 apparently suflice. That their voice is penetrating may be inferred 

 from the fact that during quiet days it is not unusual for parties to con- 

 verse from opposite sides of the Koksoak river, at Fort Chimo, where 

 the river is nearly a mile and a half wide. 



As certain words are spoken in a voice scarcely louder than a whis- 

 per, I did not believe it possible that they could understand each other 

 at so great a distance, until I saw the people on the opposite shore 

 doing what they were bidden by those with me. 



When the women get together it is amusing to observe the eagerness 



