524 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
is then placed upright, but not exactly in the middle; and to 
the top part of the stick are the skins attached, something in 
the shape of a marquee. The height of the tent is about 7 to 8 
feet. 
On the entrance of the sailors into the toopik of the husband 
with two wives, the latter did not seem in the least abashed at 
the presence of the intruders; they were lying on the ground, 
with no other covering than their daily clothing of the deer 
skin; at their heads were the remnants of some fish, of which 
they had been partaking on the preceding day: and the little 
human animal, that was crawling about them, in a state of 
nudity, now and then took a bite of one of the fish, looking 
exactly like a monkey squatting on its hinder parts, munching 
a biscuit or an apple. The Esquimaux ladies were certainly 
destitute of any article of furniture, on which they could invite 
their visitors to sit down and rest themselves; nor were there 
any refreshments at hand, wherewith they could be regaled, 
unless perchance their appetite might lead them to partake of a 
slice of stinking salmon, ora raw cutlet of putrid seal flesh, 
The ladies, however, rose from their couch, in all the capti¬ 
vation of their morning deshabille ; and the first act, which the 
younger of them performed, was, to advance towards Richard 
Wall, who was the stoutest of the party, and with a bewitching 
look, invite him to the ceremony of kooniging. Richard was, 
however, not to be tempted by the wiles of the seducer, and 
made the best of his way out of the tent: it being also pretty 
evident, that the lady was disposed to try the experiment on the re¬ 
mainder of the party, they all followed the example of Wall; 
leaving the ladies to form whatever opinion they pleased, re¬ 
specting the gallantry of the Kabloonas. The husband followed 
them to the outside, and, from his gestures, they were able to 
understand, that it was the intention of himself and his tribe, 
to visit the ship, for the purpose of pointing out an excellent 
fishing place, and, particularly, where the Tommy Cod or Coal 
fish were to be caught. The ladies, it was supposed, indignant 
at the affront, which had been offered them, (for, certainly, no 
greater insult can be offered to a female, than to reject the favors, 
