ESQUIMAUX TRAVELING. 



129 



and a half inch plank, and shod with the jaw-bone of the whale. 

 The width was thirty inches, and the cross-bars fastened by strings 

 of whalebone. 



Allokee's widow had wintered here, and she at once bent her 

 steps to the spot where she had formerly halted, and took from 

 the ground a large pewter plate that had been left there. I asked 

 her where she had obtained the plate, and her reply was " En- 

 glish" — thus probably obtained from one of the whalers. The 

 use she made of this piece of ware was as a receptacle for needles, 

 knives, beads, reindeer sinew for sewing, etc. 



After staying here a short time we again started, and arrived 

 at our destination about one o'clock. There the Esquimaux fam- 

 ily left us, intending to foot it for about two days over mount- 

 ains, through valleys, and across rivers before arriving at their 

 home. But not only had they to walk that distance, they had to 

 carry a heavy pack on their shoulders ; and I was appalled when 

 I saw the load each one took, especially on such a journey, with- 

 out the least particle of food with them. 



Our return was made without difficulty, and I got on board 

 much pleased with the excursion. 



On the 3d of September we were visited by an old gray -haired 

 Esquimaux woman called u Pe-ta-to" In talking with her she 

 declared that her children had numbered twenty -five, but all were 

 dead except two. She explained this by throwing out both hands, 

 fingers and thumbs widely spread, twice, and one hand thrice, thus 

 making twenty -five. At the time I could, not help doubting her, 

 but she was afterward confirmed by other evidence. 



Of this kind old woman I shall have more to say farther on, 

 but at the time of her first visit she greatly interested me by her 

 intelligence and excellent memory. Kunniu, Ugarng's third wife, 

 also proved herself far more gifted than I should have supposed. 

 Her husband wished me to have her as my own, and then she 

 could go with me to King's Cape, where she was born ; and she 

 herself frequently explained that I could not go the way I want- 

 ed by boat, owing to land all around the Frobisher waters ; but, 

 as I was unable to start that season, I had to decline the offer. 



Some of the amusing tricks played by these Esquimaux women 

 are especially deserving notice. The variety of games perform- 

 ed by a string tied at the ends, similar to a "cat's cradle," etc., 

 completely throws into the shade our adepts at home. I never 

 before witnessed such a number of intricate ways in which a sim- 



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