ESQUIMAUX. 



7 



at intervals, when the fall of one was heard, or 

 the crashing of the ice struck the ear like the 

 noise of distant thunder. 



When nearly off Saddle Back, with a light 

 favourable breeze, and about ten miles from the 

 shore, the Esquimaux who, visit the Straits 

 during summer, were observed with their one 

 man skin canoes, followed by women in some of 

 a larger size, paddling towards the ship. No 

 sooner was the sail shortened than we were 

 surrounded by nearly two hundred of them: 

 the men raising their paddles as they ap- 

 proached us, shouting with much exultation, 

 6 chimo ! chimo ! pillattaa ! pillattaa ! ' expressions 

 probably of friendship, or trade. They were 

 particularly eager to exchange all that they 

 apparently possessed, and hastily bartered with 

 the Eddystone, blubber, whalebone, and sea- 

 horse teeth, for axes, saws, knives, tin kettles, 

 and bits of old iron hoop. The women pi*e- 

 sented image toys, made from the bones and 

 teeth of animals, models of canoes, and various 

 articles of dress, made of seal skins, and the 

 membranes of the abdomen of the whale, all of 

 which displayed considerable ingenuity and 

 neatness, and for which they received in ex- 

 change, needles, knives, and beads. It was 

 very clear that European deception had reached 



