OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



279 



and variable in the evening we cast off from the ice, and soon after 1822 - 

 Mr. Ross was so fortunate as to obtain a whole flock of the Lams Sabini, d^rL> 

 thus confirming the accuracy of Iligliuk's information respecting this rare 

 and elegant bird. They were in company with a number of tern and boat- 

 swains, but still keeping in a separate flock. We did not see many wal- 

 ruses in the offing ; those animals appearing to prefer the shoaler water im- 

 mediately off Igloolik, where they are found in such numbers as to afford an 

 easy, abundant, and luxurious subsistence to the Esquimaux. In the offing 

 we more frequently met with seals, and generally of a large size, lying 

 upon the ice ; but these creatures are so watchful, that it is difficult to ap- 

 proach them within gun-shot before they tumble themselves into their holes. 



On the 23d we went on shore to pay another visit to the Esquimaux, who Tues. 23. 

 came down on the ice in great numbers to receive us, repeatedly stroking 

 down the front of their jackets with the palm of the hand as they advanced, a 

 custom not before mentioned, as we had some doubt about it at Winter Island, 

 and which they soon discontinued here. They also frequently called out 

 timet, a word which, according to Hearne, signifies in the Esquimaux lan- 

 guage, " What cheer!" and which Captain Franklin heard frequently used 

 on first accosting the natives at the mouth of the Copper-Mine River. It seems 

 to be among these people a salutation equivalent to that understood by these 

 travellers, or at least some equally civil and friendly one, for nothing could 

 exceed the attention which they paid us on landing. Some individual al- 

 ways attached himself to each of us immediately on our leaving the boat, 

 pointing out the best road, and taking us by the hand or arm to help us 

 over the streams of water or fissures in the ice, and attending us wherever 

 we went during our stay on shore. 



The day proving extremely fine and pleasant, every thing assumed a 

 different appearance from that at our former visit, and we passed some 

 hours on shore very agreeably. About half a mile inland of the tents, 

 and situated upon the rising ground beyond the swamps and ponds before 

 mentioned, we found the ruins of several winter habitations, which upon 

 land so low as Igloolik, formed very conspicuous objects at the distance of 

 several miles to sea-ward. These were of the same circular and dome-like 

 form as the snow-huts, but built with much more durable materials ; the 

 lower part or foundation being of stones, and the rest of the various bones 

 of the whale and walrus, gradually inclining inwards and meeting at the 

 top, The crevices, as well as the whole of the outside, were then covered 



