The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-02-04
The Polnr Regions and the EsnuImau1.


At the last meeting of the Historical Society, |
DR.. Isaac ]. Hayes, who accompanied DR.. Kane
in his Polar Expedition, read an unusually in
teresting paper, giving his personal experience
of the Esquimaux: a residence of two and
half years within the Arctic circle had given
him familiar acquaintance with this singular
people. He described most particularly the
tribe inhabiting the shores of the head waters
of Bafin's Bay, distributed along coast line
of about four hundred miles, reaching from
Cape York to the entrance of Smiths Strait
The tribe numbers not more than $50 souls, and
is rapidly decreasing. This is in consequence
of the climate becoming colder. The great gla
eier accumulatons of Greenland and hyperbo-
rean America had modified the temperature, and
as proof of this, he said the Esquimaux had
once lived on both shores of Smiths Strait.
The Esqumaux can live only on the borders
of a sea, which, if not perpetually open, is at
least so throughout greater portion of the year,
and is always crossed by creeks Smiths Strait
is now never free from ice, and for at least nine
months of year it is entirely cemented over. 1t
must have been otherwise when the EsquimauX
inhabited its shores. He spoke feelingy of the
decaying ruins of a settlement he had found
near lat so deg. N. The old broken down huts
and the remains of the great moot caches-the
polar grass fattening on the rich refuse-the
walrus and the bear-were most vividly de-
scrbed.
With the last remnant of this little tribe he
had lived for some time. He had lived with
them in their snow houses. travelled with them
on their long journeys, joined with them in the
hunt, and suffered with them the effects of the
precarious sources from which they derive their
daily food. This was subsequent to the sepa-
ration of the Advances company in the autumn
| Of fa ~ tyhJ Jah hs4c no. cnd history
He would not relate the circumstances attend
ing this important step, but would only state
that, in the opinion of majority of the officers,
! the separation of the party was deemed neces-
sary; and, acting under this conviction, eight
persons, with two frail boats and less than six
weeks provisions, pushed out into the icy will
derness, to reach, if possible, the settlement Of
! Uppernavk, a thousand miles distant, or, fail
! ing in this, it was their intention to fall back
upon the settlements of the EsquimauX to spend
the winter.
They were unfortunate in not reaching Uper-
navk and thus it was that the doctor and his
companions came in connection with the natives.
! They were frozen fast fifty miles from the near
est station, and they remained a month on the
most barren spot on this desolate coast, in a
hut they built in the crevice of rock, living
the while, if living it might be called on tripe
de roche, species of lichen that they scraped
were unsuccessful in the hunt, and at last when
there seemed no prospect of their existing much
longer, they entally fell in with the Esqui-
maux, from whom they received meagre sup
plies of food. These supplies of food at last
ceased, and driven by starvation they were
compelled to force these Esquimaux to carry
them to the ship, in the dim moonlight of mid
winter.
The origin of this singular people has been
i. I 4 4l,,AL La,a
over the Polar world. The most probable theo-
ry is, that they have, at some remote, undeter-
mined period in the worlds history, in pursuit
of new hunting grounds, crossed over from
Asia by the strait that joins the Arctic and Pa
ciic Seas, or by the Aluctian chain of islands
from Kamschatka, and have gradually worked
their way to the eastward, and brought to a
stand upon the icebound shores Of the Spitzber-
gen sea.
Wherever they are Sound, whether about Icy
Cape Ungara Bay. Smiths Straits, or on the
coasts Of South Greenland, the same character
stcs are preserved throughout. The same
long, black hair, the same coarse development
of features, the same broad, fat faces and high
cheek bones, the same height below the mean
of the Caucasian race, the same clothes of fur,
the same boats (Kayaks) of skins, the same huts
of snow, the same dogs and sledges, the same
wandering life and improvident habits, are the
personal and domestic characteristics described
by all their historians.
They have no government. They have a
chief (Nalegak) in name, but do not recognize
his authority. Every man does just as peases
him best. They are thoroughly democratic
Crime is not regarded as a moral delinquency
only as violation of public opinion, dictated
by selfish interest, and punishment is only in
1icted by private hands, as an actof vengeance
They are very peaceabe in their social rea-
tiOns-quarrels seldom occurring When one
thinks he has been wronged or insulted by an
other, he challenges him, not to mortal combat
but to a war of words The friends of the par
ties are summoned. Taking their stations In q
circle, the combatants enter the lists, and the
challenger commences satrical song, extern
pore, keeping time with seal skin tamborine
He having finished, his opponent commences in
the same strain-and he who can make the au.
dence laugh the most at his cutting jests gains
the victory.
Their religion is simple. They believe in the
existence of good Spirit (Torngarsunk) and
of an Evil Spirit, who is his wife or sister,
Some think the Torngarsunk lives in great
house in the sea, surrounded by all kinds of sea
animals, and great pot near by, always filed
with boiling seal for the disemboded spirits
Others think he lives in the mansion of the moon
situated on the borders of the lake abounding
in salmon, surrounded by rich country, COW
cred with grass and herds Of reindeer. The
doctor closed by an allusion to the successful
efforts that had been made to Christianize and
civIize Greenland. OF the 1000 native inhab-
itants, three-fourths have been baptized. The
country is owned by Denmark, and the mission
airy stations support themselves by trade with
the natives-Pha. Ledger.
THEATRIcALs IN AUsTRALA.-A late number
| of tho MeIhourna 4 ro,e thus snaakc of Mrs. Sin