304 



THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



124). Tlic oriiainentatious consist of cruciform and quadrate figures on 

 the handle. Tlie tobacco used I'or smoking is tbe comiiioiiest black 

 plug of very inferior quality, soaked with molasses and licorice. This 

 moist tobacco is cut into pieces and a coal of fire placed upon it. They 

 prefer this (|unlity, and ])urchasc the lighter and drier kinds only to 

 serve as kindling for the darker sort. 



They do not know how to brew or ferment liquoi s of any kind, aiul 

 as the inip(»i'tation of intoxicants is wisely i)ri)hibited, the native has no 

 opi)ortunity to indulge iu his craving for liquors, the supply of which 

 was j)lentiful in former years. A spruce beer is made by the servants 

 of the comi)any for the holidays, and a taste is sometimes given to a 



Kii,. 123.— Stone tobacco iiiiic. Flo. 1'24.— Pii)ecleaner, Npncnot, 



favorite Indian, who is so easily affected that a pint of this mild beer 

 will send him reeling and happy to his tent, where it soon becomes 

 known that beer is to be had. The importunities for drink are now so 

 tmiuent, that the barrel must be emptied of its contents iu order to 

 avoid the constant beggings for it. 



MKANS OK TI!.\NSP(>RTA I'lON. 



BY WATIiR. 



All the Indians of this region use birch-bark (tanoes, of the pattern 

 shown in the figure (IM. xxxix, from a photograph;, the collection also 

 contains six wooden models of these canoes). The style of canoe used 

 by the Little "Whale river Indians of the eastern side of ITudson bay 

 has very much more sheer at the bow and stern than those used in the 



