Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-12-08
Revelations OF the Kane Expedition.

Revelations OF the Kane Expedition.
A great many facts relating TO the Esqni-
maux Indians. &C., are narrated bv the Oh
fcers of the Kane Expedition. We lean
from the published statements these par
iculars as 10 The habits of life of the Es-
qnimauX:
The Esqumaux settlements are some
forty miles apart, and generally consist
of but two or three huts, containing pop
uation of some eighteen or twenty. These
hurs are generally built of massive stones,
some of them of several tons weight, and
it is a matter Of surprise how they could
have possibly got them up. Like the
Isledges, the huls are handed down as
most valuable properly. Some OF them
have been seen built of whalebone-pro-
bably from FISH taken by them after being
killed by whalers. I'm 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
happy. Their huts are heated by means
of stone lamps, cut by themselves out OF
sort of soap stone, fed with blubber, and
with wick of ground moss.
Their sleeping places are platforms
built of stones raised some Ell ghteen inches
from the floor, so as to keep in the warm
almosp sphere-and covered with grass la
ken from islands a! a distance. THEFT
clothing consists Of fox skin jumpers or
coat, with an inner jumper OF bird skin,
the feathers inward, bear skin irowsers,
bear skin boots, and bear skin gloves.
The dress of the women is similar 10 that
of the men, except that the former wear
boots extending half way up 10 the thigh
while those of the men do not extend TO
the knee; and the ladies also wear sack
to their hoods, which they cali nesssck,in
which they carry their children. The
men are of a medium size and stoutly
built, while the women are of smaller sta
ture and slighter. They do not practice
the Mormon habits of polygamy, but are,
on the contrary, extremely particular
about their matrimonial relations. This
has been the universal testimony of Tav-
ellers WHO have visited them. AS with
all savage nations, The onus Of the labor
devolves upon the women. The men
come in from the hunt, throw down the
prey they have SO secured, waIrus or seal,
and the women have then 10 90 10 work,
skin the animals, prepare the flesh for
food, extract The bones and prepare the
snews for sewing purposes. One of the
ordinary acts of hospitality or civlIlty on
the par! of the ladies is TO take fowl, or
piece of meat, chew itup very nicely, and
hand it to the visitor, who Is expected TO
be overcome with gratitude, and 10 finish
the operation Of chewing. 1t would give
them dire offence if there should be any
failure to do due honor TO this act OF hos
pilally In all other respect they exer-
else 10 a remarkable degree the same VIZ
lue. The Esquimaux of the Northern
regions profess TO hare dread of gong
up 10 he Danish settlements, lest they
should be eaten up by their Southern
brethren, while these last entertain the
same dread, and with more season, OF the
Northern tribes. Those tribes. however.
which live as high up as the expedition
penetrated, seem 10 be gradually exlln-
guished, and DR.. Kane has formed ,he
philanthropic scheme of collecting these
people together. He proposes. we are
,oId, 10 gather them from the most Nor
thern regions, and to bring them down to
the Danish settlements. where they can
enjoy uore comforts, aud be subject 10
less virissitudes.
The Esnnimaux have a priest, whom