Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-11-28
THE ESOUIMAUX.

account OF the Northern 1ode 6
well calculated to refresh ones love OF ,
our much abused civilization, sinces the
utmost squalor and degradation OF city
dens do not equal the sloth and wee OF
these favored " children of nature" One
extract will suffice =
"These unsophisticated children OF
the frost-land never wash off dirt-for
the simple reason, that of dirt, as such'
they have no conception OF idea. 1t their
faces get so foul as to clog their nostrlis'
they open the air passages just as they
clear away the ofal from the door OF
their tents when it imped es their ingress
and egress. On our explaining to wo-
man that we wished her to wash her
face, she at first refused; but being bri-
bed with a paper of needles, she caught
bird, skinned it, and splitting on its
fresh bleeding skin, polished her face
with it. My friend Mayouk had dirt on
his face, one quarter of an inch thick
when / first saw him. The next time
met him I did not recognize him, and
actually requested Mayouk himself to
send Mayouk to me. Two of our sailors
had caaght him, and in spite of his trou-
bles, insisted on washing his face. He
did not seem to appreciate the improve
ment it had made in his appearance-on
the contrary, he was quite mortified, for
he had become the laughing stock of his
fellows.
l would like to speak plainly of the
personal habits of these people, if it were
only for the benefit of a class of philoso-
pliers among us who delight in chanting
the vices of civilization, and dreaming of
what man might be if he could only get
back to state of nature. But there are
pictures, and life-like ones, that we cover
with curtain.
Improvidence is another trait of these
fresh children of impulse" We were
at their village on the 10Th of August.
Yet, although the auks were flying
around them in such quantities that one
man could have been able to catch a
thousand an hour, they had not enough
prepared for winter to last two days.
They were all disgustingly fat, and al
ways eating-perhaps an average ration
OF eighteen pounds per diem-yet they
had lost seven by starvation during the
< last winter, though relieved, as far as we
> could make it, by the Dokto Haynes
doctor Kanes.)
They suffer dreadfully from cold, too
e yet there is abundance of excellent pea
# which they might dig during the sum
It mer. They know its value as fuel, anc
h are simply to lazy to stack it. The lit
tie aux, which forms their principal food
IS may be said also to be their principa
$ fuel. Indeed, it quite fills the plac
which the seal holds among the NOR
Is southern Esquimaux. Their clothes ar
II lined with skins; they burn the fat, an
y setting aside the livers and hearts, to b
n dried and consumed as bonbons durin
d the winter, they eat the meat and int:
tines, cooked and raw, both cold and 6
~ blood heat. | remember one night
.0 child woke up crying with cold feet
IL His mother reached out to one side {
~ the tent, took up pair of birds, kiIle
&c them, skinned them, turned the skin II
nc side out, aud drew them, while sti
c warm, on to his feet, to serve as stool
ca ings, pulling his little boots on owe
ID them.
re They are very hospitable the minu
a' we arrived all hands began to catch birC
NJ and prepare them for US. Tearing O
the skins with their teeth, they Stripe
the breasts to be cooked, and presente
US with the juicy entrails and remainir
portions, to eat raw, and stay our app
IL tites. The viands did not look invit;r
v to us who witnessed their preparation
ne but they appeared so hurt at our refusir
ur to eat, that we had to explain that it W.
to not cooked, but raw birds we wanted
ut This was unsatisfactory. They set o,
en- at once to catch some for us, and in
IN few moments three of them were on II
Is way down to the boat, loaded with bird
'u Their way of catching them is peculia
" 1hey have small scoop nets, attached
III long poles, not unlike those used f
II catching chronological specimens.
IS man will take one of these, and havir
III stripped off his jumper, and tied its sleev
SO that he may use it as sack, will |;
' himself down on the hill side and n
''' the birds, three or four at a time, as tn,
" ny over, examining them into the jump
" as last as caught. When he has Q
rs enough, he proceeds deliberately to k
uS them. fakipo, thew o,,o H., -. i ,