PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
243 
upon. In the stern of one of the baidars there was a very entertain- CHAP 
ing old lady, who amused us by the manner in which she tried to 
impose upon our credulity. She was seated upon a bag of peltry, from July 
which she now and then cautiously drew out a skin, and exhibited the 
best part of it, with a look implying that it was of great value ; she re- 
peatedly hugged it, and endeavoured to coax her new’ acquaintances 
into a good bargain, but her furs were scarcely worth purchasing. She 
M^as tattooed in curved lines along the sides of the cheek, the outer 
one extending from the lower jaw, over the temple and eyebrow. 
Our visiters on board were not less accomplished adepts at barter- 
ing than the old woman, and sold almost every thing they had. With 
the men, “ taw^ac,” as they called our tobacco, was their great object ; 
and with the women, needles and scissors ; but with both, blue beads 
were articles highly esteemed. We observed, that they put some of 
these to the test, by biting them to ascertain whether they were glass ; 
having, perhaps, been served with wax ones by some of their former 
visiters. 
Their implements were so similar to those of the Esquimaux as 
to need no description ; except that their bows partook of the Tschut- 
schi form. They had a great many small birds of the alca crestatella, 
strung upon thongs of hide, which were highly acceptable to us, as 
they were very palatable in a pie. These birds are, I believe, peculiar 
to St. Lawrence Island, and in proceeding up the strait their presence 
IS a tolerably certain indication of the vicinity of the island. They 
are very numerous, and must be easily taken by the natives, as they 
sold seven dozen for a single necklace of blue glass beads. 
About seven o’clock in the evening, the natives quitted us rather 
abruptly, and hastened toward the shore, in consequence of an approach- 
ing fog which their experience enabled them to foresee sooner than 
^s, who, having a compass to rely upon, were less anxious about the 
flatter. We soon lost sight of every distant object, and directed our 
course along the land, trying the depth of water occasionally. The 
bottom was tolerably even ; but we decreased the soundings to nine 
fathoms, about four miles off the western point, and changed the ground 
from fine sand, to stones and shingle. When we had passed the wedge- 
I I 
9 
