The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-06-07
POLAR PIGMIES.
What DIR. Hayes Founu Among the lee
bergs-CuriOus Creatures-Thc Esqui-
maux's God and Devil

er, has been lecturlng on what he knows
about those cold regions, and gives
some of the facts as follows In 1853,
ne first sailed into the frozen regions
of the North, returning after an alb
any great need of success. DIR. Kane
subsequently made an effort to pene-
trate to the open Polar Sea. He failed.
But some of his party travelled over
the Ice on sleighs, and say they saw it.
Following in the footsteps of DR.. Kane,
DIR. Hayes in 1860 led another expedi-
ton towards the North Pole, passed a
winter where Kane had stopped before,
and looked out upon the open Polar
Sea from the most noteworthy point
yet reached by any explorer unless, .
added the lecturer. 9 Capt, Hall has
picked up the little flag I planted
there, and borne it on ward to the
North Pole. as l sincerely hope he
| has "
| DIR. Hayes next sketched the progress
of civilization in Greenland, Iceland
| Denmark, and other PORTIONS of North
ern Europe, where the godly King
Otalf had worked bravely III the cause
of religion, Christianizing all beneath
his away by the simple alteration OF
decapltatlng the heather.
RACE OF PIGMIEs.
g The men of the Arctic regions, y
said DIR. Hayes, g stand for the most
part about A feet high, and III color
closely resemble an unwashed North
American Indian. Their dress is com
posed of bear and seal skins. There is
little difference between the costumes
of the sexes, but the head-dress of the
women is sufficiently striking to dis
tinguish them from the men The
hair is twisted up on the top of the
head In the form of horn, several
inches In length, it's size being en-
HANGED by lnterlacing with it strips OF
seal skin, which also serve to keep il
III It's place, Though the ladies of ma.
tions less far north resort to articles
somewhat similar, they cannot be SAID
TO be equally successful, for their sis
tiers of the Arctic regions having once
done up their hair do not find it neces.
sary to touch it again for several
months, until, IN fact, the interlaced
seal skin fails to pieces from decay,
and the carefully built cone tumbles
at last.
A plurality of wives is almost invari
ably INDUCED III, and little jealousy is
manifested by the fair sex. The lee
turer related an instance of man who
came under his observation who had
three wives. These women were per
fectly content except III one particular
they considered it no small grievance
that their husband obstinately refused
to take a fourth wife, and thus tighten
the household labors of the other three
In this interesting family there had
originally been seven children. Two
had died from causes incidental tc
childhood, and a third having been
born with a dubbed foot, the father
mournfully informed DR.. Hayes that
he thought 1t best to place it in a hole
III the snow and cover it up.
THE EsQUIMAUx's DEVIL AND GOD:
The ideas of a supreme being and
thoughts regarding futur existence
entertained by these people are very
peculiar. Their God is enthroned on
a rock, with his head piercing the hea
vens, on a great islHud, and overlooks
all the world--that is, all that is worth
overlooking the land of the Esqui
maux. On this island are five steps
leading to Paradise, and on each OF
these are dishes containing food, vary
ing in quality in prcdortion to TIE
height OF the step on which they are
| placed. To this island the spirits OF
good Esqnimaux are transplanted, and
| deposited according to their degree of
merit on the steps of the rock, where
they regale themselves through all
eternity on the food contained III the
dishes As for the spirits of the I'M
fortunate Esqmmaux who have not
merlted salvation, they are cast into a
region OF intense, unimaginable cold,
where no such thing as food is ever
seen
Their evil spirit is a woman, dwell
ling at the bottom Of the sea, and oc-
casionally wreaking her spite upon
them by keeping the fish from rising
famine. The most curious ceremony
known to the Esquimaux is perhaps
that OF marriage. 1t is done thus ::
when a boy kills polar bear it is con-
sldered sufficient proof of his ability
to maintain family: he is therefore
told "to go and catch a wife" Watch
ing his opportunity at night time, he
pounces upon victim and attempts
to carry her off ; she, however, strug-
giles and shrieks until she has collected
around her group of sympathizers. -
She then turns upon her captor, and
bites and scratches him till he is COM
PEELED to refuse her; then she darts
INTO the crowd and attempts to escape;
he follows, but not unmolested All
the old women take scourges OF dried
seal skin faand gellate him unmerci-
fully as he passes, making at the same
time every etfor to arrest his course.
If, despite these little impediments
to matrimonial bliss he should catch
his victim, the biting and scratching
is renewed, and in all probability he
is again compelled to release her. and
the chase, with It's attendant discom
forts. is resumed Should he overcome
all obstacles, the third capture usually
proves effectual, and the victim, ceas-
ing her struggles, is led away amid
the acclamations and rejoicings of the
assembled multitude The extremely
simple manner of administering justice
is worthy of imitation. Judges are
not necessary, and the impanelIing of
a jury is unknown. A large crowd of
people assemble, and both plaintiff and
defendant in turn relate anecdote, and
other jokes for several hours Judg-
ment being ultimately given in favor
OF the men who has best succeeded in
amusing the multitude.