THE ESKIMOS. 131 
Straits, coming out from shore to meet the steamship 
Alert, which to them was a fiery monster of mystery. 
Accompanying them was a party of men in kyacks, 
and all were preparing to board the ship without invi- 
tation; but the first officer, by brandishing a cordwood 
stick, and threatening to hurl it at them if they came 
too near—backing up the menace with the liberal use 
of some strong English which they did not understand— 
induced them to await his convenience to receive them. 
When the ship was past the shoals near which she 
was steaming, and safely into harbor, the natives were 
allowed to come on board. They were an odd-looking 
crowd, some of them curiously dressed. One old grey- 
haired chief had apparently reached a stage of civiliza- 
tion in his attire not common among the Eskimos, for 
outside of his seal-skin clothing he wore a long white 
cotton nightshirt, of which he was evidently very proud. 
The Eskimos are always pleased with the acquisition of 
white men’s garments, but their ideas as to how and 
when they should be worn do not always agree with ours. 
Early navigators have described the Eskimos as being 
savage tribes, greatly to be feared, and it is true that 
unfortunate crews have fallen into their hands and been 
murdered by them; but often in such cases the fault has 
been as much with the whites as with the poor savages. 
They really possess very simple, childish natures, but at 
the same time are characterized by a quiet determination 
and deep jealousy, which, when aroused, is likely to lead 
to acts of violence. From my own observation, I do not 
think that the Eskimos would, without considerable 
provocation or great temptation, harm any one falling 
into their hands. 
