The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-11-25
Social Characteristics of the Esquimaux.

The government among the Innuit
tribes where they have any at all, is
patriarchal, consisting of advice from
the older and more experienced, which
is recognized and complied with by the
younger Parental authority is never
strictly enforced, but the children read
lily defer to the wishes of their parents
not only when young, but after reach
consulted upon all matters of interest.
The authority of parents in their family
and of the chief, or ish-u-mat-tah, in his
tribe is enforced without fear of pun
ishment or hope of reward.
When person offendS the sentiment
of a community, or inflicts injury upon
a neighbor, the matter is talked over
among those interested and PREPARATION
may be demanded in the shape of pay
ment, not in money, for they have none
or anything that represents it, but in
goods, such as knife, sled, dog, a
gun. ish-hooks, walrus line, or. indeed,
any thing that comes handy. There the
matter ends, or, if the offender declines
to settle, the case may be referred to
the ish-u-mat-tah, who will probably
insist that payment be made. And yet,
should the delinquent still prove contu-
macious and refuse to pay, the matter
rests there-there is no punishmentlfor'
his offense. The well-behaved will talk
TO the refractory one and say "ma-
muk- poo-now" (no good but that is
all. Should he be hungry or his family
unprovided for the others will assist
him Just the same as if he did well and
obeyed their laws and customs. He
can come into their igloos and chat with
them upon the topics of the day, or join
in the meal that is under discussion,
and the stranger would never know but
that the utmost harmony existed among
them. If you were one for whom the
community had respect they might
privately inform you that $50 and 81"
was emo good" but you would never
suspect it from their actions toward
him.
So it is in the treatment of their chill
dren. Punishment for wrong doing is
almost unheard of, and as for striking
a male child all would recoil from such
a thought with horror. The male child.
and especially the heir, is a prince in
his own family circle. Everything is de-
ferred to his wishes unless he can be
persuaded to surrender it. With female
children it is different. They must sub
NIT to every act of tyranny on the part
of their brothers at once or feel the
weight of a parents hand. Nothing
would seem more abhorrent to an Es
quimaux mind than the thought of
striking a man or boy, but to strike
woman or girl is, on the contrary,
quite proper, and, indeed, laudable.
And when one of these powerful sava-
ges strikes his wife it is no gentle love
tap, but blow that might stagger a
puGilist. | remember once seeing an
Esquimaux for whom | entertained the
greatest respect strike his gentle and
afectionate young wife, the mother of
two fine children. He struck her upon
the head with an an-out-ah Ga stick
made for beating snow off of fur cloth
ing, and in form and weight like a po-
liceman'S club. Two blows fell in
quick succession upon that devoted
head and made the igloo ring again. |
was undressed and in my sleeping bag
at the time, but it was with the greatest
ulluCulIN lildI COuiO ICSLtdlh III SCil
from jumping up and interfering to pre-
vent the outrage. 1t required all the
nerve | could muster. | thought |
would never respect my friend again,
but after while | began to look upon
it more calmly, and in the light of his
early training and daily experience for
wears and years thought better of him,
though not of the act.
They say it is proper thing to whip
women, . it makes them good" and
they might add it is so perfectly
Safe have often talked with them
about it and tried to explain that it was
regarded by white people as cowardly
to strike a defenseless creature, but this
was utterly beyond their comprehen-
sion. They could understand that it
would be wrong to strike male, but
female-that was an entirely different
thing. Their system of government in
regard to both families and communi-
ties seem to produce good results. Chill
dren are obedient and attentive TO their
parents, either natural or adopted, and
there is but little occasion for govern
mental interference in the concerns of
the people.-NelO York Herald.
A Boston lawyer advertises. "Di-
vorces legally and promptly obtained
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