Mar. 1859. ESQUIMAUX WOMEN. 235 



whicli had not come from the lost expedition. 

 Their sledges, with the exception of the one 

 already spoken of, were wretched little affairs, 

 consisting of two frozen rolls of sealskins coated 

 with ice, and attached to each other by bones, 

 which served as the crossbars. The men were 

 stout, hearty fellows, and the women arrant 

 thieves, but all were goodhumoured and friendly. 

 The women were decidedly plain ; in fact, this 

 term would have been flattering to most of 

 them ; yet there was a degree of vivacity and 

 gentleness in the manners of some that soon 

 reconciled us to these Arctic specimens of the 

 fair sex. They had fine eyes and teeth, as well 

 as very small hands, and the young girls had a 

 fresh rosy hue not often seen in combination 

 with olive complexions. 



Esquimaux mothers carry their infants on 

 their backs within their large fur dresses, and 

 where the babes can only be got at by pulling 

 them out over the shoulder. Whilst intent 

 upon my bargaining for silver spoons and forks 

 belonging to Franklin's expedition, at the rate 

 of a few needles or a knife for each relic, one 

 pertinacious old dame, after having obtained all 

 she was likely to get from me for herself, pulled 

 out her infant by the arm, and quietly held the 

 poor little creature (for it was perfectly naked) 



