Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-11-28
LAND OF THE ESQUIMAUX.
Some Traits OF the People in
the Arctic Regions.
a Savage Race who Can Draw Maps and
Have Tremendous AppetitaA

Writing about the Esquimaux In
the New York Times Lieut.. Schwatka /
says: "They are rude Typographical
engineers as well as sculptors, and are
extremely good map makers for such
unkempt savages. Nearly every white
man. explorer or otherwise, who has |
visited their country and associated |
with them speaks of this trait being
very CONSPICUOUS in them. It seems
especially well developed in the wom-
en-, although many of the men, from
their greater amount Of journeyings
over ard around a country. are often
in a position to make more accurate
drawings in the details or particular
places. l have had several occasions
to use them as map makers, and find
their rude charts quite accurate, good
enough at least to enable me to recog-
nize the places was trying to make
out. These propensities for drawing
and carving have often been utilized
by ethnologists to show the origin of
this great family or race which caps,
the North American Continent. Moth
ing SO pleased the little ones of the
Innuits as pencil and clean piece
of paper on which they could draw,
and quite often we would find group
of these spending hours in producing
fearful hieroglyphics, until the sheet
looked like pattern sheet from a Ia,
dies fashion magazine. The nautical
almanacs and books Of tables for the
party were profusely ornamented with
these rude drawings. and the more i'm
portant records only escaped similar
fate by being kept under lock and key
when not used by us.
The ornamental displays in the sew
ing of the women are those which are
confined to the limited varieties of
colors to be found on the seal and
reindeer. The fur of the latter in its
prime is in the darkest-colored ami
mails quite glossy black on the back.
the fanks and belly being white and
between these extremes every shade
of gray can be found. The skin of
the former is tanned in two ways. one
of which makes it black, the other a
dirty white, and their best sewers
combine these furs and skins in de
signs often quite intricate, and not
without pleasing effect. None of the
men or boys know much about sewing.
although l doubt if like other savages
they consider it degrading, in so many
things do they assist their women
with their work. AS war party is
wholly unknown among them. and
these are the only kiR+4s of parties
among most savages hhaccompanied
by women, it is seldom that the In
NUTS have not their footgear in the
very best condition, and somebody al
ways with them to keep it so should
it get otherwise.
One of the duties of the Esquimau
women is to chew the hides of the
ook, k,jooi (great seal) that are intended
for the so.es and footcoyering of thv,
sealskin boots, this process renderin .
them more nearly waterproof, and
they may be seen thus engaged in
almost every tent or snowhouse. BY
| the time they are old crones and too
weak from age to chew on the sole
leather any longer, their teeth are
worn down almost to their gums with
the constant attritlon. They will
often do this labor as pastime while
/ employed at some other work which
! only requires about half the attention
and the use of one hand. as cooking
/ leaving the other hand free to roll the
great bolus of seal leather around in
the mouth, that keeps opening and
shutting all day with the regularity OF
windmill pamp, and with just such
spasmodic variations. according to the
intensity of the mental wind.
1t would hardly do for one to imag
inc that an Esquilnau could tire hi:
jaws with wagging them. so constant
ly do some Of them keep them goini
in eating their almost continual lunch
es Of raw frozen meat and not tidbio
from the stone kettle hanging over tn
stone lamp. AS an example OF thei
enormous appetite, an Esquimau BOY
supplied by Capt. Perry. Of the roya
navy, while wintering among them
devoured in one day over ~ pound
Of solid food and drank Of tea coffee
and water over gallon and halt
7 A man of the same tribe, Zone o
those not far from North Hudson Bay