The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-04
Married Life Among the Esquimaux.

1t might be supposed, says correspon-
dent with the Schwatka expedition, who
saw something of life among the Esqui-
maux, that III such state Of society as exists
among this people there would be no roman
ces, no marrying for love but that would be a
mistake, for there have been several roman
tic little episodes that came under my OBJ
servation during my residence in North
Hudson's Bay. There Is poor old man
dwelling with the Iwilllks, near Depot Is-
land, named Iteguark, who had two very
attractive and useful wives, or Nu-lce-aug-
ar, as Is the native term. The old man had
been good hunter, but few years ago
met with an accident that resulted in his
right knee becoming stitfened, and his hunt
ing days were over. He can still hunt seals
throug the Ice, but cannot work up to them
on top of the ice, nor Gun he chase the
reindeer on his native hills. Then it was
that Oxeomadiddlee looked with envious
eyes upon the youngest and fairest of Itc-
guark's wives and induced her to come and
live with him. She knew that her new
lover was strong and active and better able
to support her than her old love and listen.
ened to the voice of the tempter. Iteguurk
was not disposed to submit meekly to this
trcachery on the part Of his friend Oxeo-
madtddlee, 80 one morning while the tru-
ant wife and her new husband were
sleeping in their igloo Iteguark
enteredand sought to take the
life of the seducer with hunting knife.
But Oxeomadiddlee was on his guard and
being man Of immense strength he caught
his adversary by the wrist and by the sheer
force of his grip compelled him to drop the
weapon on the floor. He then released his
hold and lteguark rushed out to his own
igloo and got his bow and qulver, but his
enemy was still watchful and took the bow
and arrows away and destroyed them.
Here ended hostilities. Oxcomadiddlee
paid the old man for his wife and that set
tied it forever. Presently another Inuit
named Eyerloo fell desperately in love with
poor lteguark's g remaining wife, and with
his arts and Establishments won her away
from her husband. There was no fight this
time. The poor old man gave up conf
pletely, and said the world was all wrong
and he only waited for his summons to
leave it and mount the golden stairs.
A few years ago an Igloolip inuit named
Kyack won the affections of one of Iko-
mars wives and this brought on duel in
which Kyack came very near leaving Mrs
Kyack a widow. Ikomar got the head of
his enemy in chancery and tightened his
ar,h around his neck until Kyaok dropped
lifcless upon the snow. He gradually re-
covered, and would have returned the stol-
en- wife, but 1komar refused to take her
back, and demanded payment instead. This
was rendered to him, and being appeased
by the offer further trouble was avoided.
Punnie, one of Armow's daughters, was,
In her YOUTH afllanced to Sebcucktelee, but
when she reached a marriageable age be-
came the wife OF Conwechungk, her adopt
Ell brother. The prctext for this new ar
rangement was that Sebeucktelec's father
had not made payment at the time he made
the wedding contract, and that Punnie
loved Conwechungk better anyhow, and
would take advantage of the omission of
the intended father.in-law. 1t made no
difference that Conwechungk had another
wife-in fact, it was all the better on that
account, for lie would have one for him
selS and another to loan around to his neigh
bors. When l left Depot Island noticed
that he had not only loaned his first wife
away but had traded his dearly beloved
Punnie for Tockoleegeetais's wife for an
indefinite period while Sobeucktolee had
taken to his bosom Netchuck, the discarded
wife of Shockpenark. But life is altogether
too short to allow Of complete and rell-
able record being made of the social gossip
Of an Esqulmaux village. 1ntermatriages
are common, and everybody is related to
every one else IN the most intricate and
astonishing manner. I once read of man
who married widow, and his father, sub.
sequently marrying the daughter of this
same widow, was driven insane by trying
to ascertain the exact relationship of their
children. Such trifles have no effect upon
tho Inuit brain or the entire nation would
long ago have become raving maniacs.