In getting out of their canoes, as well as into them, great care
is required to preserve the balance of these frail and unsteady
coracles, and in this they generally assist each other. As we were
leaving the island, and they were about to follow us, we lay on
our oars to observe how they would manage this; and it was
gratifying to see that the young man launched the canoe of his
aged companion, and, having carefully steadied it alongside the
rock till he had safely embarked, carried his own down, and
contrived, though with some difficulty, to get into it without
assistance. They seem to take especial care, in launching their
canoes, not to rub them against the rocks, by placing one end
gently in the water, and holding the other up high, till it can be
deposited without risk of injury. As soon as we commenced rowing,
the Esquimaux began to vociferate their newly-acquired expression
of "Hurra, give way!" which they continued at intervals,
accompanied by the most good-humoured merriment, as we crossed
over to the main land. There being now a little sea, occasioned by
a weather tide, we found that our boats could easily beat their
canoes in rowing, notwithstanding their utmost endeavours to keep
up with us.
The two Esquimaux tents which we were now going to visit were
situated just within a low point of land, forming the eastern side
of the entrance to a considerable branch of the inlet, extending
some distance to the northward.
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