The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-01-21
UP in GREENLAND.

Religion and Crime Among the Natives
OF That Northern Land.
A good deal was learned about the
natives of Greenland on the second
visit OF the members OF the Kito expe-
dition to Godhaven. Though sup
posed to be Christians--in the church
sense-they have not that obedience
to the creed that would be necessary
TO qualify them for church member
ship in America. The doctrine of
original sin they decline absolutely to
accept says tho Chicago Times, and
they refuse also to believe in hell
not surprising. considering the tenn
perature of Greenland. Gov. Cars
tens impaired this information about
original sin in horrifed tones. He
was scandallzed when he learned that
Of the party to whom he was speak
ing not one believed in it either.
Sun and moon and great spirit are
the trinity they worship. Not far
from Godhaven is q. cave which no
Esquimau passes without throwing ia
some article. even if it is only O hunk
OF blubber, to appease the igreat,spirit.
1t was suggested that this would be
the place for the expedition to acquire
relics II the cave could be found.
In former years the Esquimaux
buried with their dead the kayak and
spear If the deceased was man and
the household implements if woman.
Utilitarian ideas probably did away
with this waste OF personal property.
At the present time the Esquimaux
go to the Danish churches for the
benefit OF the music and singing. which
they greatly enjoy. In reiig on as in
everything else they appear to be
governed by their own traditions
Mr., Carstens said that in Green
land there is really no law, and it is
impossible to inf1ict any punishment
except small fines or minor depriva-
tons. II one EsluimauS kiIlel an
other, or If member OF the Kite ex-
petition slaughtered native or fellow
member ashore tho Danish govern
ment would be helpless.
Three murders are on record In
Greenland. A wicked Esquimaux in
his kayak overlook an oomiak or big
skin barge. manned by women. and
wickedly cut big hole in the bottom,
drowning the nine occupants. Moth
ing could be done about it. His fellow
Esquimaux took no action with view
to getting even, and he is going around
just the same without much of blern-
ish on his record. :is
you could find him in the Omena!k
Frold," said Mr.. Carstens. %''If any
Of you gentlemen care to hunt him up
you can shoot him II you like. He we'll
de5erves it. Greenland has no execu-
toner. The inspector can't go around
hanging people. Neither the gov
ernor nor myself wants the job. No
EsQuimau coIli be induced to do it
Mr Carstens had noted DR.. Keely's
anxiety to get an Esquimau skeleton.
and especially urged tho job upon
him.
The second murderwas one of In
fanticide. The third was the. killing
Of an,in5ane girl. The young woman
was quite obstreperous and the Esqui-
maux held meeting and decided that
they wouldn't stand it any longer.
The doctor had given one Of them
some carbolized Oil for external pur-
poses only. They administered a
teaspoonful of it to the girl and she
became crazier than ever. Whom she
subsidized they decided to bury her.
When the doctor looked into the mat
ter he decided that she had besn bur-
led alive. Nothing was done about it