Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/309

288 Sampson and his party started about 8 on Thursday, April 25th, and at noon a snow-storm raged so furiously that some fears were entertained for their safety; but they returned in the afternoon, having captured one fine seal. A feast, as usual, followed; and here I noticed for the first time an Innuit custom of giving to the youngest child the seal's eyes. That night, while in bed, I received a rather unwelcome visitor in the following way. It has been justly said that "knowledge is often pursued under difficulties," but in my case the knowledge I desired came to me instead of my seeking it. I was desirous of making myself acquainted with the tides in that region, and took every opportunity to investigate the subject; but, on the night in question, between seven and eight o'clock, the tide came pouring into the igloo, threatening destruction to all within it. The full moon, by Greenwich time, was, April 24th, 10h. 23m. and, consequently, the highest rise of the tide would here be some forty hours after. I had watched for it during some time, and finally retired to my tuktoo furs, little expecting it would show itself to me by my bedside in the way it did; but such a proof was enough. From it I ascertained that the rise of tide at full and change was thirty feet. Fortunately, the tidal flow and abrupt inundation produced no serious damage, though it gave work to the females of the igloo, who hurriedly secured the fur dresses and other valuables from the salt water. It was strange to me to see them cleaning or currying the seal-skins. The mouth of the female currier served as a deposit for all the scrapings, and the tongue was kept in constant requisition to keep free the scraper, a dish being by to receive the contents of the mouth when full. The scrapings of board, hands, &c. all went first to the mouth, then to the dish, and thence to the dogs! The storm continued during the following day, and I remained where I was, studying more and more the habits of this strange people, and endeavouring to give some elementary instruction to the children.