The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-08-23
Habits of the EsISimos.

Let Us examine the more immediate
environment of the Eskimo-their house,
1t is composed offs hillock ofturfed earth
of square form, recalling somewhat our
military Notifications. It's entered by
a low door, giving access TO a narrow and
very low passage, in which the Green
lander himself, Notwithstanding his
SMALL size, is forced 70 bend down. The
single apartment to which this passage
gives access, and the floor Of which Is lower
than the surrounding ground, is yentilat-
ed by an orifce in TIE upper part. It is
lighted by two openings on each side of
the door, and hermetically closed by strips
sown together, of sort of gold-beat-
er's skin, made Of the inteslises ofthe
Sits into the apartment sufficient
light, but appears from without alto
gether opaque. The furniture consists
of a sort of campbell, which occupies
the entire half OF the apartment, pre-
yided with seal skins, and on which the
whole family pass the night, after hav-
ing taken off their day costume and
put on another, more ample dress, On
the ground, a stone basin, said to be Of
serpentine, the form of which resembles
that of fish, is filed with seal-oil
in which are stepped several wicks.
The flame which rises from this vessel
gives a sufficient light, and maintains
the confined space at high tempera-
ture. The cotton wicks come from
Denmark, as also the chemical matches
which the Greenlanders constantly use
to light their briar-root pipes, which,
with their tobacco, their alcohol and
their coffee, are sent them each year by
the Danes.
TheIr costume is made almost entirely
of seal-skin. II consists, in the case Of
men, of a shirt (Dsnish), above which
is placed wooden vest The pantaloons
are of hair sealskin'; the boots, under
the pantaloons, OF sealskin leather.
Gloves of. fur armed, when necessary,
with bears claws blue spectacles-
against the wind and the reflection from
the snow complete the accoutrement.
The costume of The women is not want-
ing in elegance. The hair is raised, a Ia
Chinese: on the top of the head, and
hound into a sort of vertical chignon,
tied by colored knot A 'well-htting
blouse of European material, trimmed
with fur, is provided with hood, in
which the mother carries when
necessary, her latest born, as the
opossum does her young. The woman
wears very tight breeches, of seal
skin. and high boots, reaching above
the knees; red, embroidered with yellow,
after marriage; white, embroidered with
green. among unmarried girls.
Their arms consist OF bows with which
they shoot arrows pointed with bone or
iron and similarly made harpoons, which
thew throw from the hand. When the
HARMON is 10 be thrown into the water
it is attached to cord provided at the
other end with an inflated seal-bladder
wb;cb acts as buoy and prevents the
I, 81 otthe wounded animal, which would
away into deep water with the mar
IN. Their other apparatus are. IRON
s,s,.books, wooden bats representing tsn'
oolored. and very well initiated. 10
tI,sae we msy add cases of skin which
thew nut on the paws Of the dogs when
the cold is very intense; leathern mug
zlss to put over the snout OF the oos',
smoothing irons OF stone, kniyesioen siOAi
With those which iron-tannerS use
20 dress skins, and intended for the same
ou~rose Thls will give an idea OF all
th.t the Greenlanders have TO help them
: 70 struggle against the inclemency Oh
! their native climate. 49,.
! Before concluding what relates 70 the
. .uvrouudines one word about the All
: rantation. The word Eskimo IL no. 1ne
: name which they give 70 thernselves'
I Tbev call Themselves Innpit tthe mem
: 40 true is Il that under All c'im..s'
! human vanity prevails. The name Es'
: Liroo Tester o' raw Ash) is malevo'en'
: nickname given them BY their Anelle-n n..,,
) ns;gbbors. il is not. however 20 ~e.'
? r~srited now IS il was the last cen.o..' ...',
: :. the time when Crsniz observed q. .'.' ~
r. a,.s- ~, contiu,,e. never tbeless 20 e, ,-5 E
: .hs ansi lard sent them from psrm'.. ~. .1 Z
a slso the lines Of the sea' -l
easaa eooksd. [Netnss'