292 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1822. Koo-nih which is rubbing noses, to the great amazement and amidst the 



Julv. 



v^-v-w plaudits of the whole company. After this, as if much refreshed, he re- 

 sumed his performance, occasionally however taking a koonik to enliven 

 himself and the spectators. The rub^ee, if I may be excused the expression, 

 was at length brought forward and put in the place of the first dancer, who 

 rushed out of the tent to cool himself. In this manner five or six couples 

 exhibited alternately, obtaining more or less applause according to the oddity 

 of their grimaces. At length a witty fellow, in consequence of some whis- 

 pering and tittering amongst the ladies, advanced and gave me the koonik, 

 which challenge I was obliged to answer by standing up to dance, and my 

 nose was in its turn most severely rubbed, to the great delight of all 

 present. 



" Having been as patient as could be wished for above an hour, and being 

 quite overpowered by the heat of the crowded tent, I made a hasty retreat, 

 after having distributed needles to all the females, and exacting kooniks from 

 all the prettiest in return. A general outcry was now made for Dunn, a most 

 quiet north countryman, to exhibit also ; but he, having seen the liberties 

 which had been taken with my nose, very prudently made his retreat, anti- 

 cipating what would be his fate if he remained. 



" During a short interval of fine weather we hung out our clothes to dry, 

 and the contents of our knapsacks, instruments, knives, and beads, were 

 strewed on the ground Avhile we went inland to shoot a few ducks. We cau- 

 tioned no one against thieving, and were so much at their mercy that every 

 thing might have been taken without a possibility of detection, yet not a 

 single article was found to have been removed from its place at our return. 

 At night I was attended by the same bedfellows as before ; the young puppy 

 however, being now better acquainted, took up his quarters in my blanket- 

 bag, as from thence he could the more easily reach a quantity of walrus- 

 flesh which lay near my head, and I was awakened more than once by find- 

 ing him gnawing a lump by my side. 

 29. " On the morning of the 29th I was really glad to find that the ships were 

 not yet in sight, as I should be enabled to pass another day amongst the 

 hospitable natives. While making my rounds I met several others who were 

 also visiting, and Avho each invited me to call at his tent in its turn. Where - 

 ever I entered the master rose and resigned his seat next his wife or wives, 

 and stood before me or squatted on a stone near the door. I was then 

 told to £ speak!' or in fact to give a history of all I knew of the distant 



