An Expedition down the Begh-ula. 35 



of their shirt or coat, which was tied in front. The lofty- 

 top and side hair knots, so fashionable among the Esqui- 

 maux of the Mackenzie and Cape Bathurst, prevailed here, 

 and in my opinion did not at all tend to improve their 

 appearance. The women are decidedly better looking and 

 cleaner in their habits and persons, so far as I had an .oppor- 

 tunity of judging, than the generality of Indian women in 

 the North. Their cheeks were red and rosy, the expression 

 of the face always amiable, and their behaviour in perfect 

 accordance with the latter quality. The kayaks and 

 oomiaks are precisely similar to those in use among other 

 tribes of Esquimaux, and their arms comprised a bow and 

 quiver of arrows — iron, bone and ivory pointed — a spear y a 

 long and short knife, and a long prong which they use in 

 darting at wild fowl. There were eight lodges at this place. 

 The covering consisted of half-dressed sealskins mounted 

 on poles placed upright in a slanting position, the interior 

 being covered with deerskins and robes for sleeping. The 

 kettles we saw were of sheet iron and copper, the former 

 large and the latter of various sizes, and had evidently been 

 traded from our Indians. The knives were mostly of Eng- 

 lish manufacture, but the larger beads were different from 

 those used for the trade of the " E " District. The chief 

 " Pabina " had a common gun and horn with some powder 

 and ball, which he told us he had received from one of the 

 Good Hope Indians who visited the Esquimaux last spring. 

 The gun was marked "Barnett, 1854." 



Finding the Esquimaux so very friendly, I somewhat 

 relaxed my demeanour towards them, and accordingly per- 

 mitted several of them to cross the barrier referred to, at 

 the same time directing the crews to prevent any attempts 

 at pilfering ; they however presumed on this occasion, 

 doubtless encouraged to do so by the fear which the Indians 

 evidently had of them, and which from their natural acute- 

 ness they clearly perceived. One of them (a Coast Esqui- 

 maux) went so far as to steal a silver fox which I had shortly 

 before traded from him, I was at the time occupied in talking 

 to the chief at some distance from the canoes, but on being 



