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"Every man had pieces
of bone or shells thrust through the septum of his nose; and
holes were pierced on each side of the under lip, in which
were placed circular pieces of ivory, with a large blue bead
in the centre, [...] These perforations
are made at the age of puberty; and one of the party, who
appeared to be about fourteen years old, was pointed out, with
delight, by his parents, as having to undergo the operation in
the following year. He was a good-looking boy, and we could
not fancy his countenance would be much improved by the
insertion of the bones or stones, which have the effect of
depressing the under lip, and keeping the mouth open. Their dress consisted of a jacket of rein-deer skin, with a skirt behind and before, and a small hood; breeches of the same material, and boots of seal-skin. Their weapons for the chase were bows and arrows, very neatly made ; the latter being headed with bone or iron ; and for fishing, spears tipped with bone. They also catch fish with nets and lines. All were armed with knives, which they either keep in their hand, or thrust up the sleeve of their shirt. They had received from the Loucheux Indians some account of the destructive effects of guns. [...] The men. when sitting for their portraits, were more . sedate, though not less pleased, than the females: some of them remarked that they were not handsome enough to be taken to our country. It will be seen from the engraving, that one of the men had a different cast of countenance from the rest; we supposed him to be descended from the Indians." |
