The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-11-11

Nheek Of the reindeer. When exposed
in cold weather the Esquimau wears an
outside coat of longer fun, with the fur
side out, called koor-e-tar, and . pair
of outside trousers, also with the hair
turned, outward. These are called
rok' -e-lee.
So arrayed, the Inuit, or the white
man either, is prepared to travel in the
coolest weather ever experienced, and
with comparative comfort. The hood
of the kooletar is often furnished with
a drawing string, to be used when fac
ing the wind, and q sealskin thong can
be tied around the waist to keep the
wind from penetrating beneath the
arteegee. But even in the coolest
weather the air upon ones naked skin
beneath the arteegee or shirt. and un-
der the trousers, is not by any means
unpleasant unless the wind is blowing.
In that case comfort is almost out OF
the question under any circumstances.
The women are clad very much as are
the men, except that their trousers are
worn with the hair side out and only
one pair is customary. But the artee-
gee and kooletar are enough larger to
make up for the deficiency in trousers.
Their stockings are also larger and
come away above the knee, a long mar
row strip extending to and fastened
under the belt. The Iwilliks and Kim
nepatoos wear quite protuberance at
each ankle, extending outward like in
cipient wings, and the shoulders of
their arteegee and kooletar are also
built out in the same way. Their hoods
are very long and warm, reaching to
their waists when thrown back and
erected jauntily in the air when drawn
over the head. On the back and con-
cealed by the hood is "a fullness in the
dress of the married women to admit of
the body of the naked child, which is
habitually carried there. It's the home
of the youngest, even should he have
reached the aye of four or five years.
The Esquimaux in the vicinity of Back 8
River and King Williams Land are
similarly clad, with the exception that
instead of the decided bag at the ankle
of the women's stockings there is mere
ly a gradual fullness, which is neither
ornamental nor useful. The Hudson's
Bay women use this ornament as bag.
and carry there what would be carried
in pocket, if they had pockets.
The natives of Hudson's Straits dress
very much like the others, the differ
ence being in the women's hoods,
which, instead of being long and mar
row, are long and wide. and provided
with drawing string. Instead of the
long stockings they wear q pair of leg
gings that reach about half way up the
thigh, and trousers that are much short
er than those of the Western tribes.
The Kinnepatoos are by all odds the
most tasteful in their dress, and their
clothing is made of skins more careful
ly prepared and better sewed than that
of the others, except in occasional in
stances.
The bedding of all these Esquimaux
is made of reindeer skins, thick, un-
tanned skins of the buck forming what
corresponds with the mattresses, and a
blanket to cover them is made of we'll
tanned doe skins, sewn together so as
to be wide at the top and narrowing
winter and summer, single blanket
formed of three doe skins covering a
father, mother and all the children.
1t is the duty of the women to attend
constantly to the lamps, to melt water
for drinking and cooking, and to cook
the food. They also turn the wet shoes
and stockings inside out and dry them
at night. A "good wife, is one who
sleeps but little after a hard days
march, but attends constantly to the
articles upon the drying frame, turning
them over and replacing the dry with
wet. When one frame full of clothing
has been dried, she places the articles
under her in the bed so that the heat oil
her body will keep them warm and dry.
and replaces them upon the frame with
other articles. She gets up long before
any one else is awake, and looks care
fully over all the clothing to see what
ulenulIg is required. Her position,
when not asleep, is with her bare feet
bent under her, in Turkish fashion, and
there she sits all day long before hel
fire, engaged in making clothing, cook.
ing or other household duties. and is
seldom idle. When at work she lifts
up her voice and sings. The tone lacks
melody but not power. 1t is relief to
her weary soul, and few would be cruel
enough to deprive her of that comfort,
for her pleasures are not many. She is
the slave of her children and her hus.
band, and is treated to more abuse than
affection.-N y Herald.