Voyage of Discovery to the Arctic Regions. 19$ 
:e As we were standing in this evening towards the place where 
Mr Lee told us the Esquimaux lived, four canoes were observed 
paddling towards us* While they were yet at a considerable dis« 
tanee off, we could hear them making a great noise, which they con- 
tinued to do as they approached us. They came alongside with-’ 
out the least hesitation, and one of bur boats being there, bur people 
assisted them in getting but of their canoes, which were all hoisted 
on board, and helped them up the side. On getting on board they 
evinced no signs either of fear or astonishment. On finding them- 
selves in security, their first act was to turn to dance ; if turning 
round, jumping, and other wild gesticulations, deserve that appella- 
tion. At the same time that they were shewing us their accomplish- 
ments in the dancing way, they gave us a specimen of their vocal 
talents also ; but to call the tWo or three monotonous ejaculations 
that they uttered a song, would certainly be a misapplication of the 
word, for the whole of their melody consisted only of these three 
words, te hey , yey, yagh>” which they repeated with great rapidity, 
and with vehemence in proportion to the movements of the body: 
these were at first very violent, but by degrees became more mode- 
rate, from being unable, 1 imagine, to continue such fatiguing exer- 
tions.” Fishers Journal , p. 272. 
After going below, u they skipped about, and hby yby gagh’d 
more furiously than ever,’" apparently, as Mr Fisher conjec- 
tures, from a desire to please the sailors. The oldest man, who 
was about sixty years of age, and only 4 feet 11 inches high, 
sat down very composedly to have his picture, taken. He seem- 
ed a great adept at mimickry, and imitated with an air of the most 
complete buffoonery and good humour the attitudes of Captain 
Parry who shewed him the proper posture ; the other two were 
young men, about 5 feet 5 inches high, and between twenty 
and thirty years of age. Their dress differed little from that 
of the Esquimaux of Greenland, but their canoes were not so 
neat. The frame work was made of firwood, and the paddles, 
which were 9J feet long, were of the same material, and the 
rim of the blades was neatly edged with bone. They had 
some small pieces of iron, but bone iu general supplied its 
place An exchange of articles soon commenced. They re- 
ceived for their seal-skins and a canoe, articles of utility, such as 
knives, Scissars, needles, nails, gimblets, ; and the sailors gave 
them several useful and ornamental donations. As soon as they 
received any article, they touched it with their tongue, 44 appa- 
* Captain Parfy mentions it as a singular circumstance, u that when a Kaleido« 
scope or a Telescope was given them to look into, they immediately shut one eye.” 
voi/v. NO. 9. JULY 1821. N 
