, 1889-10-24
A WIFE IN GREENLAND.

From the journal of one of the mom-
bers of the Nausen party which crossed
Greenland last year;
The day having advanced considcra-
bly,, we determined to spend the night
here, and 50 proceeded to carry our
things on shore. This Is matter Of
moment, as the natives take great
pleasure in helping us; particularly do
they vie with each other in carrying the
large bright tin boxes, containing crack
ers and preserves. We hear every time
new article comes on shore their
"Ehauah!" This sound expresses an
Esquimau's great wonder As we want
the boats OH shore too. they are sur
rounded by men and women, and with
shouting and laughter they are hauled
up steep incline. While still in the
water they were an object of curiosity,
and are now subjected to renewed and
thorough investigation. II is not to be
wondered at, since they are probably
the first wooden boats these people have
ever seen. The tent pitched and our
work done, we inspect the heathen
| camp.
The tents consist of sealskin, generally
condemned kayak covering, which are
placed over wooden framework of con-
/ ltdl We WtTc W
and pulling aside a double curtain OF
sealskin covering the entrance, we step
into n room lit by q row of steatite,
basin-like lamps, tillen with blubber, a
| piece of moss on one side serving ms a
wick. Although poor light, still three
or four are sufficient for tent occupied
by score of people. Some seal flesh Is
boiling in steatite kettle hanging over
one OF the lamps but the Esquimau
/ tnl hn r,f IL
food. Usually he eats IL raw. Along
the tent wall the benches are fixed.
These are very low, and serve as seats,
common sleeping places and work
benches for the women. A young wom-
an who has just entered, takes a seat on
the bench opposite MS, and quite coolly
puts on her hcathenish house dress
that Is, sho takes oil every garment with
the single exception of small hip belt,
taken out of the "amowt," or fur-lined
hood at the back of jacket used to
carry children. The mother generally
retains the child up TO its fourth or fifth
| year, at times even longer. 1t is IA known
fact that boys of fourteen or fifteen have
| been nursed.
The men seem to be proud of theiI
wives. The four married men, in the
tent We visited, introduced their wives
to us. On account Of the peculiar way
in which they secure their bride, viz.
rapine, one might expect to find them
melancholy and grave, but the four
"missuses" whom we learned to know
seemed to enjoy themselves and to tax.
their fate quite as a matter of course
When an Esquimau wants bride he
calls at the girls house with some
friends and takes her by force; propriety
enjoins the heather women reluctantly
to marry. Occasionally the suitor is sc
strenuously resisted that he is compelled
TO pull his hearts elect out of her pa
ternal home by her HAIR. Arrived at tn,
| bridegrooms dwelling, she wears hei
hair unbound, as o sign of sorrow, and
| tries repeatedly to run away, but |,
| always overtaken, until after fortnight
she resigns herself to her fate and re
mains with her husband. should she
not care for her suitor she continues run
ming away until the man becomes tired
of hunting her up and lets her go. But
\ If he is deeply in love he does not Civ,
up, but resorts to the cruel remedy o
cutting the soles OF her feet with IA sharI
/ instrument. BY the time these wound,
have healed she has usually relented
Not wanting the man in question unde
any circumstances, the girl cuts OFT he
hair and runs. As she in this way re
nounces marriage forever, the extremity
is very seldom resorted TO. The men, a
a rule, have only one wife, but occa
sionally they take more. The first wife
though, Is generally the most important
and she is sure to retain her position
provided she bears her husband children
and particularly sons.