LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
191 
out success. It is a most curious sight to observe one of the 
Esquimaux watching the resort of the seals ; in the first place he 
constructs an edifice of tablets of snow of a semicircular form, 
in the vicinity of a place which is known to be a seal’s hole, 
and he'will sit for many hours in a crouched form, with his 
elbows resting on his thighs in despite of the most inclement 
weather, watching with all the eagerness and intensity of the cat 
watching the mouse, the appearance of the seal from his hole. 
On the projection of the snout of the seal from the water, the 
Esquimaux remains as if breathless and motionless, until 
by degrees the animal crawls from the wateT and continues its 
course on the ice as if in search of food. The Esquimaux how¬ 
ever moves not until the seal has attained some distance from 
the hole, when he suddenly darts upon him, and kills him 
with his spear. On this occasion Capt. Ross took with him a 
paper for the women to form their plan of the coast, but they 
seemed all to be alike, and at the same time highly encouraging 
to the future prospects of the expedition. On their return Com¬ 
mander James killed three grouse, and from the report of the 
natives, it was ascertained that an abundance of game was to 
be found higher up the country, but that in their present place, it 
was comparatively scarce. An unfortunate accident this day 
befel the launch, which got completely under the ice and the 
crew were occupied the whole of the following day in the 
extrication of it. About noon they were visited by some of the 
Esquimaux, amongst whom were two women, and Tullooachiu, 
who had come to make some inquiries about his wooden leg, 
but although it was not quite finished, he tried it on, and ap¬ 
peared highly delighted with his new acquisition. 
The Esquimaux women are not the most lovely objects in 
nature ; their features are disagreeable, their hair long and harsh 
and exceedingly black, their dress approaching very nearly to the 
ridiculous. The hood comes round the face, and leaves only a 
little of it exposed. The vest in front falls into a stomacher 
point, but the most singular things are the boots, which come 
up higher than any fisherman’s, and are nearly as large round 
as her body The fur of these and of the garment between them 
