OF THE POLAR SEA. 



37 



ferently shaped, having a hood in which the 

 infants were carried. We thought their 

 manner very lively and agreeable. They 

 were fond of mimicking our speech and 

 gestures ; but nothing afforded them greater 

 amusement than when we attempted to re- 

 taliate by pronouncing any of their words. 



The canoes were of seal-skin, and similar 

 in every respect to those vised by the Es- 

 quimaux in Greenland ; they were generally 

 new and very complete in their appoint- 

 ments. Those appropriated to the women 

 are of ruder construction, and only calcu- 

 lated for fine weather ; they are, however, 

 useful vessels, being capable of containing 

 twenty persons with their luggage. An 

 elderly man officiates as steersman, and the 

 women paddle, but they have also a mast 

 which carries a sail, made of dressed whale- 

 gut. 



When the women had disposed of all 

 their articles of trade they resorted to en- 

 treaty; and the putting in practice many 

 enticing gestures was managed with so 

 much address, as to procure them presents 



