Middletown transcript., 1871-08-26
THE EsarsNaCx OF BEiiRIsG's
sTisAlGiiTs.


Captain Kellett's Journal of his Arctic
Voyages. tells us that hunting and fishing
form almost the sole occupation Of the
men, who. with their small means, exhib-
It great ingenuity, as is shown by their
method of overcoming the polar bear
Their bravery is quite as much put to the
test aud VOL cxcmpiticd in 'hcir capture
of the whale, an animnl many times lar
ger than the baiiars, and quite capable of
swallowing the diminu,ye kayaks. As
soon ~ the whale is seen rolling on the
surface of the water, the kayak is padded
si,hin few feet Of it. aud the harpnon
dar,cl into the tlubber AT the least lat
'cral press tie i.Qry tnp VI the weapon
Iiscngngcs itself from the staff, which lat
ter floats on the surface # tha water and
i picked UP again, willie the top, with
tbe linz anl seal bladder attached remains
fixed ta the aninal Many 1aris Of tho
same knl are inserted, I'll a, Inst the
prfg, with Is many blallIs impeding liz
progress. yiei1s to the lancts oi It, pursa.
ers, anl Is towel in triumph to the shore
Tie capture Of the seal AMI wallns is ef-
,eetcd in The same maHner Salmon and
other fish are caught in nets the line and
hook ARE u.ea only toward the breaking
up Of the season. in order 10 obtain SUP
ply Of whiting.
Their songs, like those Of tile aboigi-
nal Americans are in fiat keys and with
out rhythm. The key in which they are
pitched always renders them melancholy,
while the total wait Of rhythm makes
them difficult Ia retain in the memory !;
their effect upon the ear Of European is
unsatisfactory. and their end appears al
rupt aud unnatural. The tunes in use n.
mone the Esqnimaux appear not 10 cx.
ceed fur in number; they arc never used
except for accompanying their dances
Music indeed seems to have Little effect
ut least. Our iddles aud flutes made no i'm.
preston whatever The accordion was an
ohjett oi curiosity. rather en account of
the manner in which the sounds were pro-
dncel than tn sounds themselves The
women. instead Of qurting tie children
with nursery dittes, put slip of blubber
in their mouths which appears to have a
ttan1uilizing etlee.
Their dance Is of the rulost kind, and
consists merely in violent motion of the
arms aud legs. Il is generally performed
by ono man. but any number of indiyi.
uals may joa. The performer. before
commencing. generally changes his dress.
putting on white cent and gloves, aud
placing haud around his head the Leak
of n bird or the snput Of some animal in
the centre Of Lis forehead, aud feather
oser each ear. lie begins BY stamping
violently with the right foot, and throw
ine out his arms with wild gcs,iculutions,
besides leering horribly Oh the surround
ing spectators. aud shaking his head lie
then uses his lcf, foot and changes again
when inclined The cxer,ions are too Vi
olcnt IL bc lone sustained. tie performer
is therefore often relieved by another -
Sometimes several men take part in the
dance and occasionally the women join !;
but the latter merely move the body and
wave their arms. without changing the
position Of their feet. The men sometimes
shout. but the women never utter d sound.
In their power of imitation the Esqnimaux
are almost equal To the Chinese. When
over they saw any Of our articles which
they could adopt with advantage, they in
variably tried to initiate it, and generally
succeeded in making it similar in appear
ance. although perhaps not so perfect in
construction. Knives. forks, and spoons.
were thus copied. aud even fiddle was
once attempted. of course quite incapable
Of harmonious sounds. This turn Of their
mind will become Of Importance. and when
they are more civilized. and havc received
proper tuition. they may, during their
long Winter. manufacture a variety Of cn-
rious and elaborate articles.
olnh sc haa,n.L.1 I..ln.I.