The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-11-11

COTIFT TUdH TUETI UuILU
only Law skins on the ground when aoout TO
sleep, which occupies the principal part Oh lhe
winter. The only daylight is admitted through
holes cut in the rock, where in some instances ice
is used in lieu Of glass. Although the natives
are devoid of any clothing, we couio haiuiy AoSP
ourselves warm with our clothes on III tue0o mi0
cradle dwellings.
The women are employed during the summer
months gathering grass, which they use When
dry in their mocassins also some pltter Deroe
for edible purposes, which they collect In great
quantities., while the men, during that season.
are employed pursuing the whale and walrus in
canoes. These are formed of walrus hide stretched
on poles, and being very light and eommodIous,
they manage with great dexterlty- In Killing a
whale, which occupies a considerable length OF
time, the canoes glide so noiSelessly through the
water, land the whale being very slothtuD the
first notice of their near approach Is accustomed
by one of the natives darting a harpoon, made Oh
ivory, to which is attached a line made OF walrus
hide. At the end of the line is made fast seal
skins inflated with wind. This process being
repeated, prevents the whale sounding, when
they dispatch him with repeated blows from
various ivory weapons. The blubber is then
divided, taken ashore, and placed In pits, the
warmth of which soon reduces it to a state OF de-
composition. in which state it is eaten, and consid-
cred a great luxury by them, as before stated
The walrus is caught in a similar manner. 1t
is not only the staple food of the settlement, but
the hide provides material for huts, canoes, and
nets for catching seal, the last are made something
similar to our fishing nets.
The hunting ashore is confined co the winter
months. the chief objects of pursuit being deer,
bears, foxes, and a species of Russian rabbit. The
weapon chiefly in use is the bow and arrow The
former is made of wood inlaid with deer sinews
the latter, in common with their other weapons,
is barbed with ivory. The brown bear. which
sleeps during all the winter months, is held In
great terror by the natives when he comes out
almost famished after his long fast, and is seldom
molested by them. The white bear, on the con-
.rary, falls an easy prey, one man being able 10
despatch him with a lance.
Polygamy is INDUCED in to an unlimited extent
by the natives, each man having as many wives
as he can provide for. In case OF marriage,
(Which is only a matter of form) after a proba-
ton of a few weeks, if the lady does not meet the
husbands expectations, she is discarded and sent
back to her parents upon proof being given oil a
wife's infdelity part of her nose pays the forfeit
of her crime. Many victims to this rigorous law
we met with at the different villages we travelled
through.
Maternal love is strongly exemplifed in this
savage race, as even a cross word or look to the
children brings upon the offender the PERPETUAL
resentment of the parents, whereas by taking any
notice of the former you insure their lasting graf
itude, and initiated as one of the family.
AS a race, the Esquimaux are very healthy,
seldom having sickness of any kind, and L believe
are the only race which have no herbs for medi-
cinal purposes. Amongst their numerous super
~stitions, they believe that if any of them die a
natural death, their soul goes to Internal regions,
of which place they have a great adherence /;
therefore to prevent such a contingency, they
put an end to the sick mans existence, after a
few days sickness by breaking his neck. which is
accomplished by leaning that part of the body on
a strap of hide and two heavy men jumping on
the stomach of the PROSTATE body. They put the
tail of the best dog in the house into the mouth
of the victim, meanwhile beating his body with
feathers aud strips of whalebone from his ankles
towards his head, by which process they believe
the sins of the unfortunate are driven into the
body of the animal. After which the dog is i'm
mediately killed. During this ceremony, the
women accompany the proceedings with discor-
dant yells, completing the horror of this revolving
scene. The body is then arrayed in its best robes,
and with all other personal effects placed on a
sleigh, when it is conveyed some distance and
there deposited, to be devoured by dogs, crows
and other animals.
There being little daylight the greater part of
four months, the Aurora Borealis is seen to it's
greatest advantage during that time, a description
of which would fall far short Of the reality. The
monotony of the snow covered expanse of ocean
and earth is only relieved by the contrary mag
~nifcence of the heavens, out of which shoot with
rich resplendant rays the beautiful ~prismatic
colors of the Northern Lights, added to which the
cence of this wonderful and glorious atmospheric
phenomenon.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the
armament showeth his handi-work &c.
JOSEPH BoYCE.