The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-01-17
nc E.spuimuux.

Putnam has graphic account of g" Ihc
Kane Relief Expedition Tie writer's ac
count Of the Northern Esquinaux is wei
calculated to refresh ones love of our mu,i
abused civilization, since the utmost aqua'o
and degradation Of city dens DO not equa
| the sloth and vice of these favored "ciIild
rem of nature" One extract viii suffice =
"Thcsc unsopLiSticatcd children Of the
frost-land never wash off dirt-for the sim
pie reason, that Of dirt, as such, they have
no conception or idea. II their faces g,
SO foul as 10 clog their nostre!s, they open
the air passages just as they clear away the
oiial nom the door Of their tents when 1t
impcdcs their ingress and cgress. On our
explaining to woman that we wished her
to wash her face, she at frs. refused but
, bving bribed with paper of needles, she
caught bird, skinned it, and splitting on its
fresh bleeding sin, polished her face with
it. Ny friend Mayouk had dirt on his face
one-quarter of an inch thick when ! first
saw him. The next time | met him did
not recognise him, aud actually requested
Mayouk himself to send Mayouh to me.
Two of our sailors had caI5ft -i..... ,.
spite OF his troubles, insisted on washing
hi iacc.-Hc did not seem to appreciate the
Improvement it had made in his appearance,
on the contrary, he was quiet mortified, for
he had become the laughing stock Of his
fellows.
| would like to speak plainly Of the per-
sonal habits of these people if it were only
for the benefit Of class of philosophers
among us who delight in chanting the
vices of civilization, and dreaming Of what
man might be if he could only get back to
a state Of nature. But there are pictures,
and llie-.lke ones, that we cover with cur
tain.
lrnprovidcncc is another trait OF these
- fresh children Of Impulse" We were at
their village as late az the 10Th Of August
Yet, although the auks were flying around
them in such Quantities that one man could
haYe been able TO cacth thousand an hour,
they bad not enough prepared for win ter to
last two days.-They were al disgustingly
ration Of eighteen pounds per dem-yet
they bad lost seven by starvation during the
last winter, though relieved, as far as We
could make it, by ihe Dok:o Kayens Doc
ter kanes.
They suffer dreaIfIl,y from cold, too yet
there is abundance Of excellent peat which
they might d;s during the sti;a,ncr. They
know its value as fuel, and are simply too
lazy TO stack it. The little aux, which forms
their principal food, may b. said also t. BE-
their principal fuel. Indeed, it quite fills
the place which the seals holds among the
more southern Esquimaux. Their c.othes
are l;ncd with its skins; they burn the fat
and setting aside the liver and hearts, to be
d. led and consumed as bOnbons dniing the
winter, they eat the meat and intestlnes,
cooked and raw both cold ana al blood heat.
remember one night Child woke up cry
ing with cold feet.-iiis mother reached out
to one side of the tent, took up a pair OF
birds. killed them, skinned them, .turnel
the skin INSIDE out, and drew them, while
still warm, OF to his feet, 10 serve as stock
ingS, pulling his little boots OF over them.
Tney are very hoSpitab!e; the minute we
arrived all bands begun TO catch birds and
prepare them for uS. Tearing OF the Skins
with their teeth, they stripped the breast,
to be cooked, and presented Us with the
juicy entrais e and remaining portions, to eat
raw, aud stay our appcttes. The viands
did not loci. inviting to US who witnessed
their preparation; stt they appeared 50
hnrt at our refusing to eat, that We had to
explain that it was not cooked, but raw
birds we wauted.-This was unsatisfactory.
They set out at once to catch some for u,
and in few moments three Of them were
on the way down to the boat, loaded with
birds.
Their way OF catching them is peculiar.
They have small scoop nets, attached 10
long poles, not unlike those used for caicA-
ing chronological specimens. 4 man will
take one Of these, and having stripped off
his jumper, and tied its sleeves so that he
a. l.,
on the hill side and net the birds, three or
four at time, as they fly over, cramning
them into the jumper as fast as caught. /
When he has got enough, he proceeds de-
liberately to kill them, taking them one by
one, and biting their heads; or, if lie does
not wish to take their lives at once, merely
locking their wings. We saw piles Of aux.
lying about the village in this condition.
They have no regular hours for meals or
sleeping, but each sleeps, wakes, and eats
as best pleases him. | don't know any
thing which imprssses one more forcib!y
with the disgusting earnestness of man to
the beast, than to see human being thus
wake from sleep, stretch out his hand, seizc
q bird, and after deyouring it raw, Ike a
wolf, turn over and go to sleep again.
And yet they are not wanting in courage Of
,. ~,
the wife Of chief, apologiz.d to ms for her
sion; and explained to me, by most express
svs signs, and no inconsderable exposure
of her person, that she hoped she was about 1
to present the house of Mitek with an heir. /
She was fortunate as she hoped, for | saw
them, not quite an hour after, wa king about /
with " fine boy" both parties looking a.
unconcerned as If nothing unusual had hap |
pencd to either.--The small animal was the 1
image Of his father, and was dressed in a
costume similar in cut and color TO that Of
the great chef-boots, breeches, and jun
per, all complete-the only difference being
that the skin of the white fox was subStitu-
ted for that of the bear.
They always take off their clothes on 60
ing to sleep and men, women and children
all cuddled up together TO keep themselves |
warm. If you come on them suddenly in |
this manner, they are not the least abashed, /
but will politely offer to make room, for you
to Join the g'oup. 1t was well, however, to !
accept these hospitalitics with some reserve.
Burns had not slept in q Etah hut, or he
never would have sung Of that solitary
" beasty on the lady's bonnet"
Fashionable young ladies will please to
pass over this item, without reading it; -,
A STREET INcIDENr.-A full-rigged maid
of fashion, with hoops all bodily set. moved
up the side walk saily, observed OF all .he
met. The walk was very vile, but the
boon.d skirts were much wider and 'twere !
useless en- to to think ofwalking up beside |
her. Her cheeks were red as roses, her
facd WAS ell a-smile and her tread 1t was /
as dainty as thoegh earth was all too vie
II was her hour of trinmph, and she didn't !
seem to know that coastins sleigh was
coming at a speed not very slow. But i, !
crme, and ere She was going down street
with boy upon his sleigh. The wind it
blew quite roughly, turning all the hoops
aback, and of paat'y smothered screams