Shortly after leaving the ill-omened spot the travellers came in sight of Acpa’s encampment. This consisted of several iglos grouped together with an unusually large one in the centre. The smaller iglos were of the ordinary kind, but the big one bore unmistakable signs of its owner’s quality and importance. Not only was it larger than the others, but it had two protuberances instead of one: the one, as in the usual case, being the kitchen, as a wreath of blue smoke ascending from it testified; and as Acpa held the proud position of a trusted trader, the other without doubt was used by him as a storehouse, a room where the trader bartered with his brother Eskimos.
A number of dogs were running in and out of the iglos, and these at once gave the alarm; promptly several rough, shaggy figures dragged themselves through the tunnels leading to their various abodes and stood watching the approaching dog trains. The moment the com-it-uks arrived at the encampment busy hands, with the characteristic readiness of the Eskimo to assist, caught at the dogs while others carried the bundles of merchandise away.
While the unharnessing and unloading were taking place still other Eskimos were engaged erecting a snow-house for Roy and the old Chipewyan, for the trader invariably despatched his Eskimo guide to sleep with a friend on these occasions.
Eskimo etiquette compelled the guest of honor to wait in Acpa’s abode till his own was pronounced ready for occupation, and in compliance with this rule Roy dragged himself through the low entrance, followed by a number of old men, women and children.
He got to his feet in the kitchen and went forward, picking his way among the skulking dogs, which, like the Irishman’s pig, were on terms of equality with their master, to the large room in the centre, and once there he gave a sigh of relief, for the air was less stifling, albeit the ventilation still left much to be desired.
Kaip-puks were brought by members of the family and spread on one of the elevated platforms or bed-steads for Roy to sit upon, and he seated himself with an inward hope that his claim on their hospitality might be of the shortest duration.
The bundles of merchandise he had brought for Acpa were now lying in the small room adjoining, which, as he conjectured, was used specially for such purposes. The one in which he sat was large and dome-shaped, while several pieces of comparatively transparent ice had been let into the walls to afford the necessary light. The storehouse and kitchen were lit in like manner, but in the latter a few sticks of driftwood were smouldering on some flat stones, the smoke from these travelling to the roof in the most erratic manner, occasionally darkening the larger room in its wanderings.
A number of men and women soon sauntered in, and, squatting down at a little distance from Roy, sat silently watching him, while friendly smiles suffused their greasy faces; infants clothed only in a hood, or perchance a tobacco pipe, were produced with startling suddenness from the capacious hoods of the women’s coats.
Grouped among the throng were old and feeble Eskimos with the wrinkled faces, projecting cheekbones and lantern jaws peculiar to the very aged, and young wives with yellow complexions and bright, intelligent faces, their hair ornamented in a fashion peculiar to themselves, with a kind of pigtail formed from the hair over each ear neatly braided, the ends decorated with beads and deer-teeth, and bands of brass worn across the forehead. Sprinkled among the group were children of various ages, and probably of both sexes, though their costumes were so exactly alike that it was impossible to distinguish to which sex each belonged. Altogether this close scrutiny was oppressive, and when Acpa appeared some minutes later, Roy’s face brightened perceptibly. “Ay-hoo-ee-la?” (Finished?) he asked with the best attempt at indifference he could muster.
“Ay-hoo” (short for It is finished), replied the old man.