Ava. 1858. TOOLS USED BY ESQUIMAUX, 155 



they have consists of staves of casks, probably 

 from the Navy Board Inlet depot. 



In their bartering with us, saws were most 

 eagerly sought for in exchange for narwhal's 

 horns ; they are used by them in cutting up the 

 long strips of the bones of whales with which 

 they shoe the runners of their sledges, also the 

 ivory and bone used to protect the more ex- 

 posed parts of their kayaks and the edges of 

 their paddles from the ice. 



Files were also in great demand, and I found 

 were required to convert pieces of iron-hoop 

 into arrow and spear-heads. If any suspicion 

 existed of their having a secret supply of 

 wood such as a wreck or even a boat would 

 afford, it was removed by their refusing to 

 barter the most trifling things for axes or 

 hatchets. 



But I must relate the events of the last few 

 days as they occurred. When 17 miles within 

 the inlet we reached the unbroken ice and 

 made the ship fast. Here the strait — originally 

 named Pond's Ba^/, and more recently Eclipse 

 Sound — appears to be most contracted, its width 

 not exceeding 7 or 8 miles. Both its shores 

 are*Very bold and lofty, often forming noble 

 precipices. The prevailing rock is grey gneiss, 



