The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-11-11
The Greenlanders.
BY THE REV. DIR. J. P. NEWMAN.

The entire population of North and
South Greenland is estimated, in round
numbers, to be about 10000 souls, and of
these $50 are Danes. The natives are called
Esquimaur, derived by some from the
Algonquin word Eskimautick, which signi-
| fes "eaterS of raw fish, Although au
| thorities differ as to their race, yet all
whom | say had the unmistakable craniol-
ogical and facial chars cteristics of the Mon
golian-tLc pyramidsl head, the almond
eye, the tawny complexion, and the sparse
beard. tt" men are well proportional
| broad shouldered, and their average height
! is five feet. AS they gain living by hunt
ing and ti>hing, they are swift in the chase
strong to encounter the bear and the wal
rus, and they launch the spear with great
precision. rhe kayak, their favorite boat,
is ten feet i,ng, two feet broad in the CEN
tire, and il form is not unlike a weaver's
shuttle. The bottom is rounded, and has
no keel. The frame is of whalebone, kept
stretched ~ little BEAMS is covered with
seal or warus skin, and is water-tight-
In the cen re is a circular hole of sufficient
size to admit one body and the boat is so
light that it can be carried on the arm or
head with ease. The Esquimaux are so
accustomed to these fragile boats, that for
pastime they perform some daring feats.-
| saw one of them turn over sidewise into
the water, and remain with his head down
and the bottom of his boat up during zine
seconds and then by stroke of his paddle
he came up spouting like whale.
The Esquimaux women are peculiar for
the softness and smallness of their hands
and feet In person, they are short and
slender, and some of the girls are quite
Nl,o,, r.
seal skin and of other furs do not i'm
part elegance to their appearance; yet the
neatness of their habits and the modesty
of their demeanor are not unworthy high
or civilization.
From Cape Farewell to Upernavik there
are thirteen Esquimaux villages, the num-
Der of inhabitants ranging from 100 to 1000
souls each. These towns are along the
coast, and are laid out without regard to
regularity. The homes of the poor are
low structures of stones, cemented by turf
instead of mortar, not more than eight
feet high, and covered with fiat roof of
turf. The entrance is a long, low, narrow
passage, through which we were compelled
to pass on all tours. The window is of seal
skin, dried, which is white and transparent,
Within are benches used as seats during
the day and as touches during the night
the bedding being composed of reindeer
skins. The homes of the danes and of the
better class of the natives are larger, more
comfortably arranged, and not unlike a
small American farm house. As whole
the Esquimaux are industrious and moral
They hold to the monogamic and not the
polygamic form of marriage. The best
hunter is the favorite with all the maidens
and he experiences no difficulty in winning
the hand and heart of the prettiest damsel
of the Greenland village. 1t was my hap
piness to visit many families in which
parental affection and tilial love were dis
played, and in which comfort waited on
simple competence. The paternal rather
than the municipal is the form of govern
ment under which these people live. When
disputes arise between families, and cannot
be settled by the parties themselves, the
case is brought before the Danish governor
who acts in the capacity of 4 justice of the
peace, and as court of final appeal the
case is laid before the Inspector General,
whose decision is final