228 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Amulets though believed in are not much used, and only one 

 Inuit was seen weai-ing one. This was Checkooaloo a sister of 

 Ugaluk's who had a small piece of carved wood firmly sewn to her 

 dress, and the only answer we could get from her as to its use 

 was : she would " be no good " if she lost it. A. similar piece of 

 wood was found carefully protected with stones by the side of 

 a grave. 



Here, as elsewhere, the Eskimo take two days i-est after killing 

 a walrus, and become very indignant if asked to do work during 

 this time. 



During the walrus season they will not put needle into deer skin 

 and, although often pressed, nothing would induce them to do so. 

 Nor will they sew anything when one of the family is ill. 



When a seal is killed a little fresh water is spi-inkled over it 

 before it is cut up, this custom, however, they would not always 

 carry out, and if done in our presence would explain with a look 

 of bashfulness that other Inuite always did so. 



Walking along the shore near low tide mark with some young 

 Eskimo who were gathering shellfish, I was surj^rised to find one 

 of the young women would not pick any of them up although 1 

 had often seen her do so before. Nothing would induce her to touch 

 them for she said she would be " no good " if slie did so for a 

 few days. 



The graves of the Eskimo are found everywhere along the coast, 

 some well built over with stones while othei'S only show where 

 the body was laid, the bones being scattered in every direction. 

 The favorite place of buiial is an island where the foxes and wolves 

 cannot get at the bodies, and near Cape Prince of Wales an island, 

 about ten acres in area, was seen litei'ally covered with graves ; 

 and monuments ten feet high were erected here and there through- 

 out it. These were evidently built for service in common, and 

 like our beacon were covered with scraps of food. 



