The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-11-12

wrapped around him. Hfs head Is co..
cred with cap and kis legs are tired to-
gether with fox skin. IL one OF his
ancestors persisted in his KAYAK, which Is
almost certain 10 havo been tho ease, tho
body is thrown into the sea, or placed
ON the beach where the rising tide will
carry il off, IL is frequently the case
that the body will be seen distinctly at
the bottom of the sea, not far from the
hut OF sthe deceased person, a long time
after his death. But the ancient way of
disposing OF the dead is TO lay them on
the ground and cover them with stones,
and this is still done 20 n considerable
extent. To economic stones, which are
not very abundant, the body is doubled
up so that q smaller number OF them viii
cover IL. Strange 20 say, IL is rule
among people that the name of n dead
person must never be pronounced. If
man happens TO have the name of n dead
man, he changes il at once, SO that the
dead mans name may never be pro-
nOunced. Even If the dead man bore
the name of an animal, as soon as no
dies the name of the animals species
must be changed by the whole tribe.
The consequence is that the language is
i'm constant state of change.
The natives of Angmagsalill arc great
astronomers I'm their way. They have
definitely determined, TO their own entire
satisfaction, that the stars are Of the
size OF a foX-skin. They have wit enough
to observe that the moon governs the
tides, and the fact comes in for frequent
mention i'm their legends, They know
just where the sun is at any hour of the
day and at any time of the year. They
have great talent for geography and
remarkable memory for places. They
can describe accurately places they have
not seen for twenty years, and even
draw pretty good map of them. They
can also tell exactly how long il takes TO
60 from one place 10 another.
The legends of this strange people
afford a singular confirmation of the
Old Testament history. They teach
that the world was at first without sea
or mountains, and that the Great Spirit,
not liking the men who then inhabited
il, destroyed il. He opened caves, into
which men fell and then water covered
the face of the earth, filled the caves,
and drowned them. When the earth
appeared anew il was all covered with
glaciers. These glaciers melted in large
parts, and there fell from hOaven two
beings who repcopled the earth.
The people of Angmagsalik are
sprightly and intelligent. They are
persevcring and intrepid hunters. They
are polite, hoSpitable, and obliging one
TO another, and yet reserved, suspicious,
and deceitful. Such sentiments as love,
friendship, and devotion are rarely met
among them.
Miss Krarer says that in her country
the days and the nights are Of the same
length. For four long months the peo-
pie sit in darkness, with only the light
Of the moon and stars. Then for two
months there is period, which is the
plcasantest OF the year. Then for six
months the sun Is seen above the hori-
Zon. Sunrise TO the poor ESquimaux is
a jubilee something like Christmas in
other countries. 1t is the only ething
that he can measure time by. He takes
no reckoning of any period shorter than
a year. The east coast of Greenland,
she says, is the coolest and most dismal
spot in the Arctic regions. Her first
recollcctiOnS are OF the snow-hut which
was her home, and the bitter cold and
frequent hunger from which she and
every one about her suffered Fuel,
properly speaking, there was none, as
there was no vegetation, and what feeble
fires hcr race could afford were fed with
the flesh of reindeer, and the bones of
fish and of the wairus. These fires were
kindled by flint, but even hints were
scarce
An EsquimauX mother who tells her
child that she will punish it always
keeps her word, even if she is not in
hurry about it, and when she gets ready
her penalty is as barbarous as it is
unique. Her threat is that she will burn
her little daughter with bone. and sure
enough she takes great bone and heats
it at the fire, and then presses it on
some part Of the little girls body until
there is an cXcruciating burn. The scar
is a long reminder TO the little one of the
danger Of fiiial diSObedience, but the
mother must draw the line somewhere,
SO sac never burns the childs face. As
may readily be judged from this fact,