The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-31
LIFE ON THE
ARCTIC COASTS.
A Glance at the FsQuimaux in
the Frozen Regions.
1I.sks's Dwarfs Who Hunt and Fish-Their
Dress, Habits, Customs and Festivities.
Esquimaux Belief in Ghosts.

- HREE types are observable among
4g the Arctic EsquimauX of Alaska. The
NHSS tall caGaverous natives on kOtZebue
Sonnd. who live on fish, ptarmigans and
narmots, always have hungry look and
habitually wear a grin of fendish glee
at having circumvented an adverse fate.
Then there is the tall, strongly knit type
of the Nooatoks, a gigantic race. Of
spleudid physique that would be remnrka-
bic in any part Of the world. Rugged as
the mountains among which they live, Wig
orous and courageous. they stop at nothing
but the impossible to accomplish desired
end. Their food supply is the reindeer,
mountain sheep, ptarmigans and fish.
The third type is the short, Stumpy one,
probably that Of the old Esquimaux before
the ,admixture with southern tribes, now
found on the Arctic coast. Whale, seal
and deer meat are their fOUd staples.
The Esouimaux have coarse, black hair,
some with a tingle of brown. Males have
the crown of the head closely cropped, so
that reindeer may not see waving locks
when the hunter creeps behind bunch grass.
They have black eyes and high cheek
bones The bones of the face are better
protected from the severity of the climate
by thicker covering OF flesh than southern
races.
Generally their beard is very scan, and
most of them devote otherwise idle hours TO
pulling out the hairs. All have good teeth,
but they are subjected to severe usage, be-
ing used Tor plncers, YlseS ana nutlng-ma-
chimes.
untying knots, holding the moutl-pece OF
a drill, shaping boot-soles, stretching and
tanning skins. When they become uneven
from hard usage they are leyeled oil with
a file or milestone.
At any time from 10 to % years of age the
male natives have their lower lips pierced
under each corner of the mouth for labrets.
When the incision is first made, sharp
pointed pieces of ivory are put IN.
Alter the wound heals the hole is grad
ually stretched to half an inch IN diameter.
Some of the poorer natives wear labrets
made from camel coal, ivory, common
gravel and glass shoppers obtained from
ships, which they shape for the purpose.
All who can obtain them have agate ones.
Some of the girls have their ears pierced
just back of the lobe, where it is thinneSt.
They wear ivory earrings, some OF when
are carved with plain figures, while others
have setting OF turquoise. Some OF them
have a string of beads extending from one
earring 10 the other, suspended under the
throat.
TATTO0ING THE CHIN
Among the women is general, and It's kept
tie custom. at the age of one narrow
perpendicular line is drawn down the
center of the chin, powdered charcoal
being used IN coloring. At about y years
of age the line is broadened to hall an
inch, and a narrow line drawn parallel to
il on each side.
Clothing for men consists of knee
breeches belted at the lOins, lOose-dtting
cloak trimmed around the bottom, and the
hood with wolf or Wolverine, or blending
81 vol IraFyC nd n
legged pair of boots with sealskln soles. In
winter two suits are worn, the inner SUIT
with the hair next to the body and the
outer with the hair turned out.
The difference between the dress of men
and women is that the latter have their
boots, stockings and pantalOOns all in one
garment. The clOaks of all females have at
the back Of the neck a fulness, for carrying
infants.
These cloaks come down below the knees
and are gored out at the sides up to the hips,
making the front look like an apron.
They are intelligent beyond what might
be expected and are quick in providing
ways and means in cases of emergency,
Some OF them carve with knife on pipe
stems, or 0Tiil-bOws made OF mastOdOn or
walrus ivory, pictures illustrating events in
the life Of the artist, tribal history or testal
occasions.
There are instances where they have
communicated with each other by means of
pictures carved on wood or ivory. In their
drawings they have no idea OF the perspec-
tive aud instead of drawing from nature
they are more apt to incline to the grOtesqde
and hideOus Just as the fancy may seize
them. Our pictures are unlntelllglole TO
them, unless they are distinctly ludlcrous.
They know no other motive than that OF
selfishness. Everything is right if it COIN
eides with their wishes, and everything Is
wrong if it is contrary.
ANY man may have their friendship if he
can pay for it; otherwise he must take the
consequences, good or bad. The Esqui-
Rlaux have been prOverbially honest and
truthful in their dealings. Aside from
fOrcibe appropriations, they rarely steal
anything, unless it is some small trlnket OF
very little value. Any little article stolen
may he easily traced, as 1t Is not IN their
nature to conceal theft or keep secret.
up to this time there has been no white
man among them who cap equal them in
bunting, fishing, sealing and shore-whaling
Judging from their standpoint. they say the
white man is ''ilualOk" unfit for anythlng).
nor have they any respect or Yeneratlon for
anything pertaining to the whites.
The EsQuimauX, on going to bed, strip off
all their clothing and huddle together under
reindeer robes. The males scarcely ever
wash their face and hands, and their bodies
never
Children are given from two to six
- names, but none Of them are those borne by
the father or mother, but are those Of
ANCESTORS
Or respected relatives. The literal mean
ing of the names are stones, foxes OF differ
ent kinds, seals of all varieties and sizes,
birds, animals, parts of animals, OF birds, Of
fishes, or of the body, sections of the coun-
Try, winds, tides, motion, fast or slow, dec
oratiye articles and names compounded in
an expressive way, as Amok Ilgara, the
she-wof Of the Tigaras.
Idiots ard partially demented persons are
permitted to live, contrary to what might
be expected of those people; but the unfor
tuBate wretches are only fed on refuse food,
and, if clothed at all, are only given cid.
WORKOUT garments. Fortunately only an
occasional idiot is to be found
An Esquimau begins his c0urtship by
making the girl presents of food delicacies,
such as deer breast, tongue and seal liver.
.Trheii be has as fine cloak made as his re-