Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-12-11
THE EsQU1MAu.
An Uncivilized Race with Some
Excellent Traits.

EXCellCnC lF0ltSs
A very pleasant and open hearted peo-
pie are these Capo York Esquimau, says
the Boston Herald. One would expect to
find them gloomy and unhappy, like the
icy fastnesses of their native Greenland.
Their frcme Of mind, on the contrary, il
very different. When they first cited
the Kite from their hillside tents they
gave her joyous gresting. "Kymo
Kymo?" or something resembling that
word they shouted in hearty tones. They
seemed to have no fear that the visit Of
strangers BODIED them ILL.,
| All the time.aboard the ship they were
smiling and laughing. These people
have never had any Christian teachings,
and almost the only white men they ever
see are the whalers. Yet they are
sorupulously honest. In trading with
them members of tho expedition passed
around among them needles, knives, and
many articles as precious to them as
diamonds to ON American. Everything
was returned.
All the men aboard the ship who had
been whaling declared that no Yak had
over been known to take anything that
was not his. The whole fort y-eigllt peo-
pie swarmed over the vessel for two days
and not single article was missed.
There was only one thing that could
have been construed into theft at Cape
York. A Yak walked into tho cooks
galley and grabbed q piece of bacon from
the pan and devoared it. In their Settle
ments, however, the food appeared to be
common property rule which may
prevail during prosperity. 1t was
noticed that they brought aboard binds
and blubber for sustenance, while they
remained on the ship, but it did not seem
to be the exclusive property of any one.
Whoever was hungry helped himself.
Looking at these Esquimaux, who are
entirely beyond the influence of civiliza-
ton, who live, ns one might say, ION
their own hook" one is tempted to ask
whether the Danish rule is such benef-
cent thing for the Greenlandcrs further
south. There does not seem to be so
much happiness in the latter quarter.
The only advantage possessed by the
Danish Esquimau is that he has better
market for his goods. A few hundred
years of civilization have not done much
else for him except to give him a liberal
strain of European blood.
What these Cape York Esquimaux
need in a material way is wood, and per-
haps guns and powder. Civilization can
do little else for them. No signs Of a
rebellion could BIO seen, but they evident
ly have traditions, superstitions, and
perhaps god, for all their affairs are
well-regulated.
In the mob of forty eight people, all
bargaining, there was no instance Of an
Esquimau covering any article secured
by one of his fellows, nor was there
single dispute as to property. On no
occasion, as far as seen, did any Esqui-
mau lose his or her temper.
The husband and wife seemed to have
separate property. All was not owned
by the man. Sometimes q wife went
ashore to get fresh articles of trade be-
longing to her husband, but on her return
she would never part with them, however
tempting an offer was made, until she
consulted him. Her own possessions,
however, such as bone needles, thimbles,
necklaces, etc., she sold without consult
ing him. The bargaining of the chill
dren for their toys was not interfered
with in the least by the old people.