Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 2.djvu/223

204 the smooth ice of Lincoln Bay, an arm of the Countess of Warwick's Sound. After lunching on frozen black skin, we pursued our journey, and arrived at Oopungnewing at 1 There I made a fruitless search for the anvil, and in an hour resumed our trip. At 8.10 we reached Jones's Cape, having travelled thirty-five miles, and were soon greeted by the familiar voices of many Innuits we knew. Among them were Sampson and his family, and I was speedily located in their hospitable abode. That night I slept closely packed among seven of the Innuits, the little girl Puk-e-ney-er being on one side of me, and her uncle on the other. On rising, I took two ounces of whale skin for my breakfast—I would gladly have eaten two pounds could I have had it—and soon afterward started for the head of Peter Force's Sound, where some more igloos of the natives were situated. Arriving there at noon, I directed my steps to the igloo of Oo-soo-kar-loo, whom I had seen the night before at Sampson's. I was met and kindly welcomed by his wife, quickly finding myself at home. I now quote from my diary:— "Monday, December 16th, 1861. * * * * After a few words of greeting and gladness from her, I commenced taking off my feet gear, for the object of holding my almost frozen feet over the ikkumer. I had just removed my kumings as in came a very venerable Innuit woman, whom I remembered having seen several times before, but whose name I could not call to mind; but I passed the compliments of the day by saying, ' As-shu-e-tid-ley? ' (Are you well?) To which she replied, ' Ter-boy-ou-loo ' (very well). I was seated on the tuktoo bed, and commenced at once to move on one side to make room for the old lady. But she signified to me to keep my seat, at the same time picking up the snow-shovel (pwa-kin), which is a small pine board with handle, placing it near my feet, and seating herself on it. The old lady, seeing me engaged in extricating my feet from their gear, put forth her hands, and drew off my double set of native socks and tuktoo stockings. She did not stop here, though I assured her that