TRADITION OF PARRY'S SHIPS. 



297 



the north shore (King's Cape), the distance between which is about 

 four leagues, and the latter fringed with numerous islands. In 

 the course of the morning several canoes and one oomiak came 

 off from the main land, containing about twenty persons, more than 

 half of whom were women and children. They brought a little 

 oil, some skin dresses, and tusks of the walrus, which they were 

 desirous of exchanging for any trifle we chose to give them." 



In this account we see a complete verification of the statement 

 made by Ookgooalloo as to his father's visit to the only ships 

 known to have been near his own " country." And I the more 

 particularly allude to it because of many other reports given to 

 me concerning the past, all of which, in my opinion, have received 

 equal confirmation. 



The natives from Sekoselar were not partial to civilized food, 

 especially Ookgooalloo and his wife Pittikzhe, for they had not 

 tasted any before. We gave each of them a mug of coffee and 

 some sea-biscuit. They tasted it — spit it out — tried it again and 

 again, and finally the man contrived to " worry" it clown ; but the 

 woman gave it up, declaring, in her own Innuit way, that " such 

 staff was not fit to eat." Though repeatedly urged to participate 

 in the regular meals served to the Esquimaux on board, Pittikzhe 

 positively declined tasting any more " such barbarous food." 



I found that the Innuits of Sekoselar had a very peculiar way 

 of speaking — that is, with a slow, drawling tone. Their words are 

 "long drawn out." The natives in our locality made fun of this, 

 and it still more convinced me that there is a considerable vari- 

 ance between the dialects of different bands of the Esquimaux. 

 Another thing I noticed was the physical superiority of these men 

 over those living around Field Bay, and along the coasts visited 

 by whaling ships. Whether all of the Sekoselar people were 

 equal to those whom I saw I am unable to say, but " Sampson," 

 who was also a native of that district, showed, as I have before 

 said, to similar advantage when compared with the Innuits in our 

 vicinity. 



-After making these men and women several presents, for which 

 they expressed much gratitude, they departed at 5 P.M. on their 

 return to Sampson's tupic, then near Evictoon, about one day's 

 journey KW. of Oopungnewing. 



