The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-11-07
TnE nAnlrs or TnE EsQrINArx.

vest. dnciem city.
THE HABITS or THE EsQuIMAUN.
The arctic expedition ofDr Kane has been
fertile in more than merely physical discoy-
cries. The student Of the science ofhunan
nature, which has OF late been inauguratcd,
will find abundant hood Tor reflection in the
following account Of Esqnimaux life:
The Esqumauy settlements are some
forty miles apart, and generally consist of
but two or three huls, containing population
Of sumo eighteen or twenty. These huts
are generally built Of massive stones, some
Of them several tons weight, and il is a mat
ter of surprise how they could have possibly
got them up. Like the sledges, the huts are
handed down as most valuable property
Some Of them have been seen built Of whale
bone probably from fish taken BY them az
ter being killed by whaers. In summer they
form tents of skins, and, at pinch, Of snow
They are hospitabie, and fond Of visiting,
and so these settlements keep up an inter-
change Of communication, and live very hap-
pity. Their huts are heated by means Of
stone lamps, cut BY themselves out OF sort
or soap stone, fed with blubber, and with
wick Of ground moss. BY this means they
manage to keep up a temperature of sixty
degrees Fahrenheit, while the temperature
out Of doors is as many degrees beluw zero.
They usually cal raw meats-lhc flesh Of
wairus and seal; but when they do cook any
thing or make any soup--which they make
very good--itis is by means Of these lamps.
. Their sleeping places are platforms built
,f .atrhf tnf haa
the fluor--so as to keep in the warm atmos-
plIere--and covered with grass taken from
islands at distance. Their clothing con-
sists Of lox.skin jumper, o. coat, with an in,
ner jumper of bird skin, the feathers inward,
bear skin trousers, bear skin bnOts aud bear
skin gloves. The dress oi the women is
similar to hat OF the men, except that the
former wear bouts extending half way up
The thig.i, while those of the men do not cx-
tend TO the knee: aud that the ladies' also
wear sack "a their honds, which they call
ne.sak, ia which they cary their children.
The men are Of a medium size and sioully
built, while tie women are Of smaller sta
ture aud siighter. They do not practice the
Mornon habits Of pnlyglny, but are, on the
contrary, extremely particular about heir
matrimonial relations. This has been the
universal testimony Of travellers vim have
visited them. As with all savage natiuns,
the onus of the labor deYoves on the women.
The men come III FROM the huHt, throw down
the prev they have secured, walrus or seal,
and the women have then to 20 TO work,
skin lie animals, prepare the flesh for food,
extract the bunes, aud prepare the sincws
lOr sewing purposes. Cine 0f the ordinary
acts Of ha.piulltynr ciyility on the part ui
the ladies' is TO take fowl, OF a piece OF
meat, chew it up very nicely. and hand Il
to tile visitor. vim i expected 10 be uvcl-
come with gratitude aud finish The operation
IL chewing. Ii would give them dire Of
fence il there should be any failure 10 do hon.
or to this act Ol hospitality. ln all other
respects they exercise 10 i remarkable dc.
gree the same virtue. The E.qnimaux 0l
the Northern regions profess 10 have dread
0f going 10 the Danish settlements, lest they
should be eaten up BY their southern breil.
rem. While these last entertain the same
dread, aud with mUre reason, 0f the north.
eIn tribes. rausc tribes, however, which
live up IL high i. Tie expedition penetrated,
seem To be- becoming gradually cxfinguisll-
cd, and We understand that DR.. Kane has
formed IT, pl,ianthropic scheme Of eollcct.
Ing these people together. lie proposes, We
are tnld, to gather them from the most north
ern regions ind bring them down 10 the Dan.
ISL settlements, where they can joy more
comforts and be subjrcl - less yici>sitadrs
The Esquimaux have priest, whom the,
call Anickuk, WIN performs marriages anl
burial services, AMI i Supposed u have .nine
influence &c the heart. When q couple i
married, their friends nave imposed upla
them. Tnr 1 certain length ol time, abstinence
lrum certain kinds ol mrats; aud when q
yunng man ora Young woman dies, all thc
h Young men aud young women " the settle
inent are condemned 20 the same sort 0f alb
.tincnce. The priest j. believed 70 have
power nycr the Malrus aud seal. and 10 time
ul pressing scarcity TO be able TO call them
up to tie surface Ui tie water. Their laiil
ia the Anickok j. the only appiuarh the,
have 10 religious belief. They spchd theil
luns winter IL four months. total darkness
10 sleeping aud eating. never going out I,
hunt unless pressed BY necessity. They
I. have no sort ol amusement except singin.
and an accompanying motion Of the bIdN
which can hardly DC designated dancing
They do not use tobacro 10 any shape. moi
,lo they SNAKE any uther weed OF root f0i
the purpose uf stimulanis. nnr wUald thel
allow any smoking 10 their huts. Tie chil
dren always ret name selected from what
ever subject happens to be on the iapis u
tie palernal hut when they src burn.
"in Lciyely o. Gmlbann, island ~ Disco
, The pnpIialiun Uf go &c 500 u compose,
principally VI Esquinaux, pure aud lial
blood. lhey manage tv keep W soOd dea