Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/153

132 Esquimaux woman called "Pe-ta-to." In talking with her she declared that her children had numbered twenty-five, but all were dead except two. She explained this by throwing out both hands, fingers and thumbs widely spread, twice, and one hand thrice, thus making twenty-five. At the time I could not help doubting her, but she was afterward confirmed by other evidence. Of this kind old woman I shall have more to say farther on, but at the time of her first visit she greatly interested me by her intelligence and excellent memory. Kunniu, Ugarng's third wife, also proved herself far more gifted than I should have supposed. Her husband wished me to have her as my own, and then she could go with me to King's Cape, where she was born; and she herself frequently explained that I could not go the way I wanted by boat, owing to land all around the Frobisher waters; but, as I was unable to start that season, I had to decline the offer.

Some of the amusing tricks played by these Esquimaux women are especially deserving notice. The variety of games performed by a string tied at the ends, similar to a "cat's cradle," &c. completely throws into the shade our adepts at home. I never before witnessed such a number of intricate ways in which a simple string could be used. One arrangement represented a deer; another a whale; a third the walrus; a fourth the seal; and so on without end. This Kunniu was a first-rate woman in all relating to work, whether in boat or on shore. She was an excellent pilot, and could pull an oar with any of our men. One day a whale was captured by the George Henry's crew at the lower part of the bay, and it was necessary for all aid to be rendered in towing the monster alongside our ship. The natives gave every assistance, and I also went with a boat, rowed by Kunniu and three others, to help. But I found they were doing well without us, and accordingly returned. On our way back a strong north-wester was blowing, and it was becoming very difficult to cross the channel. A heavy sea prevailed, and the tide was strong, causing a commotion in the waters anything