OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



495 



with. In the form of the dress they vary very little from those so repeat- 

 edly described. The jacket, which is close, but not tight, all round, comes 

 as low as the hips and has sleeves reaching to the wrist. In that of the 

 women, the tail or flap behind is very broad, and so long as almost to touch 

 the ground ; while a shorter and narrower one before reaches half-way down 

 the thigh. The men have also a tail in the hind part of their jacket, but of 

 smaller dimensions ; but before, it is generally straight, or ornamented by a 

 single scollop. The hood of the jacket, which forms the only covering for 

 their head, is much the largest in that of the women, for the purpose of 

 holding a child. The back of the jacket also bulges out in the middle to 

 give the child a footing, and a strap or girdle below this, and secured round 

 the waist by two large wooden buttons in front, prevents the infant from 

 falling through when, the hood being in use, it is necessary thus to deposit 

 it. The sleeves of the women's jackets are made more square and loose 

 about the shoulders than those of the men, for the convenience, as we under- 

 stood, of more readily depositing a child in the hood ; and they have a 

 habit of slipping their arms out of them, and keeping them in contact with 

 their bodies, for the sake of warmth, just as we do with our ringers in our 

 gloves in very cold weather. 



In winter every individual, when in the open air, wears two jackets, of 

 which the outer one (Cdppe-tegga) has the hair outside, and the inner one 

 (Atteega) next the body. Immediately on entering the hut the men take off 

 their outer jacket, beat the snow from it, and lay it by. The upper garment 

 of the females, besides being cut according to a regular and uniform pat- 

 tern, and sewed with exceeding neatness, which is the case with all the 

 dresses of these people, has also the flaps ornamented in a very becoming 

 manner by a neat border of deer-skin, so arranged as to display alternate 

 breadths of white and dark fur. This is, moreover, usually beautified by a 

 handsome fringe, consisting of innumerable long narrow threads of leather 

 hanging down from it. This ornament is not uncommon also in the outer 

 jackets of the men. When seal-hunting, they fasten up the tails of their 

 jackets with a button behind. 



Their breeches, of which in winter they also wear two pair, and similarly 

 disposed as to the fur, reach below the knee, and fasten with a string 

 drawn tight round the waist. Though these have little or no waist-band, and 

 do not come very high, the depth of the jackets, which considerably overlap 

 them, serves very effectually to complete the covering of the body. 



