280 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1820. appetites. Being prevailed on, however, to taste a little of it, with some 
5^1/ biscuit, they did not seem at all to relish it, but eat a small quantity from 
an evident desire not to offend us, and then deposited the rest safely in 
their canoes. They could not be persuaded to taste any rum, after once 
smelling it, even when much diluted with water. I do not know whether it 
be a circumstance worthy of notice, that, when a kaleidoscope or a telescope 
was given them to look into, they immediately shut one eye, and one of them 
used the right, and the other the left eye. 
In getting out of their canoes, as well as into them, great care is re- 
quired to preserve the balance of these frail and unsteady coracles, and 
in this they generally assist each other. As we were leaving the island, 
and they were about to follow us, we lay on our oars to observe how they 
would manage this, and it was gratifying to see that the young man launched 
the canoe of his aged companion, and having carefully steadied it 
alongside the rock, till he had safely embarked, carried his own down, and 
contrived, though with some difficulty, to get into it without assistance. 
They seem to take especial care in launching their canoes, not to rub them 
against the rocks, by placing one end gently in the water, and holding the 
other up high, till it can be deposited without risk of injury. As soon 
as we commenced rowing, the Esquimaux began to vociferate their newly- 
acquired expression of “ Hurra, give way,” which they continued at intervals, 
accompanied by the most good-humoured merriment, as we crossed over to 
the main land. There being now a little sea, occasioned by a weather tide, 
we found that our boats could easily beat their canoes in rowing, notwith- 
standing their utmost endeavours to keep up with us. 
The two Esquimaux tents, which we were now going to visit, were situated 
just witfiin a low point of land, forming the eastern side of the entrance to a 
considerable branch of the inlet, extending some distance to the northward. 
The situation is warm and pleasant, having a south-westerly aspect, and 
being in every respect well adapted for the convenient residence of these 
poor people. We landed outside the point, and walked over to the tents, 
sending our boats, accompanied by the two canoes, round the point to meet 
us. As soon as we came in sight of the tents, every living animal there, 
men, women, children, and dogs, were in motion, the latter to the 
top of the hill out of our way, and the rest to meet us with loud and 
continued shouting ; the word “ yilhtay" [give me] being the only articulate 
sound we could distinguish, amidst the general uproar. Besides the four 
I 
