The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-03-16
Thursday Morning, March 16, 1865.
Frosa HAIRS Life in the Artio Regions
An Esouimaux Death Scene.

When an Esquimaux approached death, his
or her friends take the sick one to hut built
expressly for the occasion, and there leave him
to die entirely alone. Mr.. Hall gives the fol
lowing sketch OF death scene: sas 5di
81 have mentioned that another Esquimaux
woman, called Nuke rton, was found TO be yery
sick, and therefore determined to again cali
upon her, taking some medicine and little
l1by that had been given me by loved ones at
home .'l' : '.''
II left the ship, and after crossing some
very broken aud dangerous ice, which formed
sort OF unstable and disjointed cause way. ar
rived at tue village during the morning. /
asked Tookoolito, to accompany me, which
she cheeriully did, and together we went to
the tupic of Nukerton. She had been lett
alone in her sickness, all uncared for, as was
customary. regret to say, with the Esqui-
maux when any Of them were hopefessly
i'll.
The poor woman was very glad to see me,
butshe was so weak and suffered SO much
that she could hardly move. gave her mea-
icine, Nhlch soon relieved her, and for this |
received many thanks; bnt Thought her end
near. could see by her wasted form and ut
ter prostration that che had not long to live
Perpaps, had she received such early attention
from her own people as is shown among fami-
lies ia civilized lie, she might have survived:
but IRON no one did she get this, and only by
chance did her illness reach my ears. oa-a
me sick woman lay on skins OF the rein
deer placed en the snow platform opposite the
entrance of the igloo, and, though in the usual
condition OF Esquimauk when Ia bed. said She
felt quite warm. The medicine, and perhaps
the kindly words, had done her good. But
some days atterward L found her snow bed had
become unit ior sleeping upon. Some unusu-
ally high temperature OF the weather for that
time of year, added to the heat-though not
much-of her own body. had melted the snow
couch, and she had sunk in an awkward posi-
ton. Accordingly, one day. December 21,)
assisted by her friends, made fresh bed, by
procuring blocks OF drilted snow, crushing
them fleIy as flakes, and making the same n.
toa soft, smooth basis. npon which was placed
the usual layer Of the small dry shrub, and on
top ci that some reindeer skins. This, them
was the rev bed for poor sick Nukert0n, and
for time she seemed more comfortable But
neither the attentions OF Tookbolto nor N.Y.
self aYaied Gradually she declined; and
though we administered such food as was nee
essary, (all the Innuit people, at this period,
being near a state OF starvation, owing to a
very bad season for seal-hunting again.1 her
death rapidly approached aa lafl .l3S 20 ri59.
tine day but one afterward paid my usual
visit to Nukertou, and found that Shimerarc-
hu was building a new igloo for her. 3Uponl
enquiry, | found it was to be her living tomb,
was tnunderstruck. A living tomb! Yes
And SO, Tookoolito said according to custom
itnust b.; and so it was. id 4 aai 5hl
"On the 4th of january, 1861, Nukertou
was removed to the new igloo. She was car
ried thither upon reindeer skins by four wo-.
men, who took her in through an opening left
for t1e purpose at the back-not by the usual
\ IL,
and The aperture well closed, while a woman
stood By and gave instructions what to do
An ordinary entrance was then made, and as
soonsas completed, went into the igloo. n 4
"Nukeit9n was calm, resigned and even
thankful for the change. OF course she knew
that it was to be her tomb; but she was child
OF her people, and she had now become help
less burden TO them, with only a few days to
live, it seemed to me that she took it as mat
ter of Tight and justice, and no one could OBJ
ject. Therefore she Was thankful that her
last moments were being SO carefully seen to-.
"a new igloo of stainless snow, well-made
bed OF the same material, where she could
breathe her last, would make her few remain
ing hours happy. True, she would be alone
for such was tie custom of her people-but
she did not fear If. She was content, and ap-
peared cheerfully resigned. W GsaI
sit may be asked by some, why did not
try to prevent such an outrage upon the feel
ings OF any Christian person? Ii so, reply
that |. did try to get her on board the ship,
but soon found that in no one thing are the
native tribes more sensitive than interference
with their superstitious rites and ceremonies,
especially in relation to death. Hence it
might have been most unwise, even If posi-
Bile, to have taken Nukerton on board. There
fore did my best for her in the igloo, where
she would have been literally entombed alive
but for my request to attend upon her. {.
Goa the Ssh of January she died; and as
the incidents connected with her death were
very striking, viii transcribe them from my
Journal as entered down at the time: y
MONDAY, January l.-This evening, fear
ing that Nukerton was wholly neglected /
went on shore about five o'clock Oh course
It was then quite dark, with the thermometer
0I degrees below the freezing point, and it
was necessary for me to have a lantern In
hand, besides some Of the natives to guide me
across the ice. On arriving at the igIoO, Ebi-
erbing and the others remained on the out
side, while ], pushing aside the little snow
door, drew myself through the low. narrow
tunnel entrance, which was lust of size sniff.
cient to admit my squeezed up body, and
neared the inner part. A strange and solemn
stiffness pervadea the place, only interrupted
by the perceptible, but irregular and spasmod-
ic breathlngs oil the dying creature within. |
raised myself up, looked towards her and gen
tly uttered her name. She answered not. A
second call from me was alike unresponded to.
therefore went to her and felt her pulse IT.
still beat, but told me too surely she was dv.
ing. Immediately cried out for Ebierhino
and Koodloo (the latter male cousin of Nu
kerton) to come in. They did so, reluctantly.
I informed them that Nukerton was diving
The announcement seemed to be overwheim-
inc in sadness. Watching intently each breath
inc of this friend of all, for while we were
silent. AtleBgth it itoccurred to me that Took
ooIito would wish to be informed of Maker
TOMS condition. | therefore indicated the
same to her husband, who immediately ran
with all haste to send her here. a few mo-
ments found Tookoelito in the presence of the
diving. No call from her familiar voice could
arouse a recognition from the one who WIS
now about to depart. Alas for US! Hnker-
ton was surely on her way to the land OF spi-
rits. ...assn ,7osFn
Tookoolto remained here as long as was
reouired, and finding the change going on
with Nukerton was by slow degrees, returned
to her igloo, leaving me and Koodioo with
Nukerton. se
In one hour left Koodloo alone in charge.
and stepped over TO EbieTbing's for few mo-
ments. Upon my return to Nukerton's, what
was nv astonishment when found the igloo
sealed up-blocks OF snow placed fmly in and
Rround the entrance way. 1t seemed to tell
me that she was dead. 1 had but short
time before learned 1t to be the usual custom
among the Innuits, when one OF their number
is diving. for all to retire rom the igIoo or tu-
pic, whichever # might be, and not return TO
it. But thought, after all, perhaps she is