awahtok’s first-born. 
71 
hut is quite cleanly, and we become his guests there 
with more satisfaction than at any other hostel in the 
village of Etah. Awahtok is evidently happy with 
his wife, and, the last time I saw him, was exulting 
over the first pledge of their union, a fine little girl. 
Well, all this about Awahtok is a prelude to the fact 
that he has just buried his daughter alive under a pile 
of stones. 
“ Myoulc, who gave us the news to-day, when deli¬ 
cately questioned as to the cause of this little family 
arrangement, answered, with all simplicity of phrase, 
that the child had certain habits, common I believe 
to all the varieties of infancy. 
“ The month is gliding on, but without any contri¬ 
butions to science, though there are many things about 
me to suggest investigation. 
“ It is as much as I can do to complete the routine 
of the days and enable them to roll into each other. 
What a dreary death in life must be that of a maid or 
man of all work! 
“ March 17, Saturday.—I have been getting Hans 
ready for the settlement, with a five-sinnet line of 
Maury’s sounding-twine. The natives to the south 
have lost nearly all their allunalcs or walrus-lines by the 
accidents of December or January, and will be unable 
to replace them till the return of the seal. A good or 
even serviceable allunak requires a whole ussuk to cut 
it from. It is almost the only article whose manufac¬ 
ture seems to be conducted by the Esquimaux with any 
care and nicety of process. Our sounding-line will be 
