Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-06-15
Death Among the Esquimax.

quantity augments, the population
increases. But if the nourishment
becomes insufficient, it becomes al
so an absolute necessity to get rid
of the unserviceable mouths, the
social non-utilities. The lifetime
of those who have the least life be-
fore them is cut short; the right to
live is possibility of living. Under
these conditions, the murder Of
children finds a melancholy count
erpart in the murder of the aged !;
the latter are deserted, the former
exposed. Such is the law against
which these wretched societies strive
as they can. When it is necessary
to choose, some sacrifice the child
rem, and even the women, to save
the aged. Among others, all the
old are sacrificed before hand is
raised against one flaxen poll.
Most sften the grandparents claim
to be inundated in place of the
little ones as a right or as a favor.
1t is q matter of course that the
sick should generally share the fate
of the aged, since they too live up
on the masses who have but short
rations to dispose of.
AS long as hope remains the in
valid is treated with assiduous at
tention. The women chant their
Aya, Aya in chorus, for they know
the power of incantations. A stone
weighing three or four pounds, ac-
cording to the gravity of the sick
ness, is placed by a matron under
the pillow. Every morning he
weighs it, pronouncing meanwhile
words of mystery. Thus she in
forms herself of the state of the
patient and his chances of recovery
If the stone grows constantly heav-
ier, it is because the sick man can
not escape, and his days are num-
bered. Then his companions con-
struct, some way off, a hut of blocks
of snow; there they spread skim
rugs and furs, and bring a pitcher
of water and lamp to flicker for d
while. And he who is consumed
with suffering, crushed beneath the
burden of age or growing infrmi.
ties, he with whom intercourse ha;
become a difficulty, he who reproach.
es himself that he costs the com.
munity more than he can repay
lays himself down; brothers ant
sisters, wives, as many as he pos
sesses, sons and daughters, relatives
and friends, come to say farewell
to converse with him whom they
shall see no more. They remain
no longer than is necessary, fol
should death overtake the sick man
the visitors must hastily strip of
their garments and throw then
. away, serious loss. No ostensibl
emotion, no cries, tears, sobs; the,
converse quietly and reasonably
He who is about to depart enjoin
his requests, expresses his last de
sires. When he has said all, tn
friends withdraw one by one, an,
. the last stops the entrance with
block Of ice. From that momen
the man is dead to the community
Life is but the total of social rela
! tions, series of actions and reaction
called pleasures and pains, differ
, ing from one another less than W
imagine. Death, all said and done
, is an individual act. Animals un
, derstand it so, and if they have tn
rare chance to end otherwise thai
by being slain or devoured, they &c
directly they feel weakness gain o.
them, to hide in the thickest brake
; burrow in the deepest hole, or dis
appear in the darkest cavern.
From this standpoint primitiv'
man is still an animal; he know
/, that he must die alone. Nowher
is the impression more literally tru
than among the Esquimaux. IL i
= permissible to see hideous and re-
| pulsive egoism in this last scene o
e their life; it is permissible, also, t
y see in it solemn and impressiv
act stamped with gloomy majesty
9 Already the hut is but a tomb, TIN
tomb of a living man, who may we
linger for some hours, perhaps fo
some days. He hears the door close
the voices die away in the distance
With bent head and hands restin,
upon his knees, he thinks and re
members. What he saw, what h
l felt in bygone days return to hi
mind; he recalls his childhood, hi
youth, his exploits, his loves, hi
hunting, his adventures; step b
step he traces his life. No NOR
hopes now, no more projects; an
as for regrets, of what use are they
What is pride nowP what vanity
/