The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-06-28
- DoNAI DsoNynIE :

bore It onward to the North Pole, ~
/ sincerelyllio he has. =
Dr.. Hayes next aketehsll the pro-
gress of. civilization in Greenland. Ice
land, Denmark and other portions o1
Northern Europe, where the godly
King Otalf had worked bravely.in tic
cause of religion, Christia1izing MI
beneath his sway by the simple meth
od Of a decapitating the lleathen.
Z "Tlle men OF the Arctic regions, .
said Dr.. Hayes, "stand for the most
part about A. feet high, and in color
closely resemble an unwashcd Nortl,
American Indian. Their dress is com
posed Of bear and seal skins. There
is little difference between the cos
tunes of the sexes, bnt the head dress
Of the women is sufficiently striking
to distinguish them from the men.
The hair is twisted up on the top of
the head in the form Of q horn, several
inches, in length, its size being en-
haneed by interlacing with It strips Of
seal skin, which also serve to keep it
in its 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
sisters Of the Arctic regions having
once done up their hair do not find it
necessary to touch it again for several
months, until, in fact, tie i1terlaced
seal skin fall to pieces from decay !,
and the Carefully built cone tumbles
at last" .--.~s e
A plurality Of wives is almost In
variably INDUCED in, and little jeai-
ousy is. manifested by tho fair sex.
The lecturer related an instance of q
man who came under his observation
who had three wives. Those women
were perfectly content except in one
particular - they considered it. no
small grievance that their husband
obstinatcly refused to take fourth
wife, and thus tighten the household
labors of the other three. In this in.
teresting family there had originally
been seven children. Two had died
from causes Incidental to childhood,
and third having been born with a
dubbed foot, the father lnournfully
informed DIR. Hayes that he thought It
best to place it III a hole in the snow
and cover it up. S s @
The idea of a supreme being and
thoughts regarding u future existence
entertained by these people are very
peculiar. Their God is enthroned on
IL rock, with his head piercing the
heavens, on q great island, and ever
looks all the world-that is, all that
is worth overlooking the land of the
Esqnililaux. On this island are FIVE
steps leading to paradise, and Oh each
of these are dishes containing food,
varying in quality in proportion to
the height Of the steps on which they
are placed. To this island the spirits
of good Esquinlaux are transplantcd,
and deposited according to their de-
gree of merit on the steps Of the rocks,
where they regale themselves, through
all eternity Oh the food contained in
the dishes. As for the spirits Of the
unfortunate Esquinaux who have not
inerited salvation, they are cast into
il region Of intense, uni1naginable
cold, where no such thing as food is
ever seen.
Their evil spirit is woman, dwell
ling ut the bottom Of the sea, and &C.
casionally wreaking her spite upon
them by keeping the fish from rising
to the surface, and thus creating
famine. The most curious ceremony
known. to the EsquilDaux is perhaps
that of marriage. 1t is done thus
when boy kills a polar bear it is
considered sufficient proof of his abili-
ty to maintain family; he is there
fore told " to 60 and catch wife,
Watching his opportunity at night
time, he pounccs upon a victim and
to carry her off she how
ever, struggles and shrieks until she
has collected around her a group Of
sympathizers. She shen turns upon
her captor, and bites and scratches
him till he is compelled to refuse her;
then she darts into the crowd and at
tcmpts to escape he follows, bu. not
All the old women take
scourges of dried seal skin aud flagel-
late him numerically as he passes,
at the same time every effort
to arrest his course. If, despite these
little impediments to matrimonial
bliss lie should catch his victim, the
biting and scratching is renewed, and
i'll all probability he is again compelled
to release her, and thc chase, with its
discomforts, is resumed.
Should he overcome all obstacles, the
third capture usually proves efectual,
and tho victim, ccasing her struggles,
is led away amid the acclamation and
Of the assembled multitude.
The extremely simple manner of
administering justice is worthy of
Judges are not necessary,
and the impanelling Of jury is nm
known. A large crowd of people as
and both plaintiff and de-
fendant in turn relate anecdote, and
other jokes for several hours; iudg-
ment being ultimately given in favor
of the man who has best succeeded in
the multitude.
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