KAYAKING. 207 



was carried on with the Eskimos to our mutual satisfac- 

 tion ; we bartered our old clothes for sealskin boots, 

 mittens, and miniature kayaks, etc. 



The two next days were warm and sunny, with westerly 

 winds, and the time was mainly given to the entomology 

 of the island, though the mosquitoes were excessively 

 annoying. On the hills were the Chionobas butterfly, so 

 wonderfully mimicking the colors of the lichens on the 

 rocks. The little blue butterfly {Polyommatus Frank- 

 linii) was very abundant here, resembling some moths 

 when in flight. 



We made long calls upon the missionaries, finding 

 them very cordial and pleasant,'with much love of natural 

 history. They returned our visit, and their wards, the 

 Eskimos, swarmed over our vessel like flies. Always 

 good-natured, without exception rigidly honest and up- 

 right, they were a continual source of interest and amuse- 

 ment. They lent us their kayaks, which are framed of 

 spruce wood and covered with sealskin, and rather wider 

 and therefore safer to row in than Greenland kayaks, 

 which are framed with bone. I found it easy enough to 

 paddle in them, but difficult to keep the bows steady on 

 the course, each stroke of the double-ended paddle caus- 

 ing the bows to go too far one side ; they are by no means 

 so safe, however, as a birch canoe. Some of the passen- 

 gers and our crew paddled for a distance of one. or two 

 miles, and after a little practice made good kayakers. 



One day while rambling over the hills near the station 

 I came upon a fissure in the rock, marked by a pole, 

 and loosely covered with a few flat stones. It contained 

 two skeletons, presumably of an Eskimo man and woman. 



I hastily put the skull and bones into the bottom of 



