snow, and threatening a repetition of the same
inclement weather as we had lately experienced.

On the 23d we went on shore to pay another visit to the Esquimaux, who
came down on the ice in great numbers to receive us, repeatedly stroking
down the front of their jackets with the palm of the hand as they
advanced, a custom not before mentioned, as we had some doubt about it
at Winter Island, and which they soon discontinued here. They also
frequently called out _tima_, a word which, according to Hearne,
signifies in the Esquimaux language, "What cheer!" and which Captain
Franklin heard frequently used on first accosting the natives at the
mouth of the Coppermine River. It seems to be among these people a
salutation equivalent to that understood by these travellers, or at
least some equally civil and friendly one, for nothing could exceed the
attention which they paid us on landing. Some individual always attached
himself to each of us immediately on our leaving the boat, pointing out
the best road, and taking us by the hand or arm to help us over the
streams of water or fissures in the ice, and attending us wherever we
went during our stay on shore. The day proving extremely fine and
pleasant, everything assumed a different appearance from that at our
former visit, and we passed some hours on shore very agreeably. About
half a mile inland of the tents, and situated upon the rising ground
beyond the swamps and ponds before mentioned, we found the ruins of
several winter habitations, which, upon land so low as Igloolik, formed
very conspicuous objects at the distance of several miles to seaward.
These were of the same circular and dome-like form as the snow-huts, but
built with much more durable materials, the lower part or foundation
being of stones, and the rest of the various bones of the whale and
walrus, gradually inclining inward and meeting at the top. The crevices,
as well as the whole of the outside, were then covered with turf, which,
with the additional coating of snow in the winter, serves to exclude the
cold air very effectually. The entrance is towards the south, and
consists of a passage ten feet long, and not more than two in height and
breadth, built of flat slabs of stone, having the same external covering
as that of the huts. The beds are raised by stones two feet from the
ground, and occupy about one third of the apartment at the inner end;
and the windows and a part of the roofs had been taken away for