256 SECOND JOURNEY TO THE 



in Europe. Our presents seemed to render 

 them perfectly happy, and they danced with 

 such ecstasy in their slender boats, as to 

 incur, more than once, great hazard of 

 being overset. A bundle of strings of 

 beads being thrown into an oomiak, it was 

 caught by an old woman, who hugged the 

 treasure to her breast with the strongest 

 expression of rapture, while another elderly 

 dame, who had stretched out her arms in 

 vain, became the very picture of despair. 

 On my explaining, however, that the pre- 

 sent was for the whole, an amicable division 

 instantly took place ; and to show their 

 gratitude, they sang a song to a pleasing 

 air, keeping time with their oars. They 

 gave us many pressing invitations to pass 

 the night at their tents, in which they were 

 joined by the men ; and to excite our libe- 

 rality the mothers drew the children out of 

 their wide boots, where they are accustomed 

 to carry them naked, and holding them up, 

 begged beads for them. Their entreaties 

 were, for a time, successful ; but being de- 

 sirous of getting clear of our visitors before 



