The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-13
Dolls or FOREIGN LANDS.
The Fondness of the Esquimaux for Chill
iren.

The Fondness of the Esquimaux for Chill
dren.
The dolls Of savagery have a purpose
very different from those Of civilization.
They are not merely playthines, but are
the means by which mothers teach their
children domestic arts. The little girl
has many important duties TO perform
when she shall become a woman. She
must learn 10 be a butcher tanner, a
furrier. a. clothier. a hatmaker and
a harness maker for dogs. All OF these
things the Esquimau wife must Know now
10 do. In that arctic latitude the night
ia six months long. and during that long
perfod Of darkness the people spend
much Of their time in making dolls.
While the fierce storms howl without the
stone lamp swings in the Underground
hut The father Of the family whites
and carves out implements OF the chase
Perchance he has a piece OF walrus lPoth
that Is TOO small for a harpoon head SO
he turns It into a doll, which he hands
over to the mother TO be dressed.
The Esquimau are very fond Of children
and spend a good deal Of time In proVld-
ing amusenments for them. with her NJ
tie girl at her knee the mother taxes DIS
of fur of the fox, the marten ana inc
seal. cutting them out with keen-edsed
flint and sewing them together win a
bone needle and thread of sinew' 1t Is
a domestic school OF household industry.
Mamma uses her front teeth for cutting
tbreads and for many other purposes
which scissors would be appropriate for.
and SO by the time she is middle-aged the
tucisors are worn down nearly 10 the
gums. BY and by the child will be able
10 help i'm making garments for her pa
rents. Having learned all about dressing
and undressing dolls she will know how
10 perform like services for her own OH
spring when she herself becomes n moth
or. No delicacy is felt about instructing
her in the duties which she must expect
some day TO fulhll. The Esqumau with
hold no knowledge from their children
on such grounds.
During the long winter night, in the in
tervals Of doll and Implement manufac-
tpre. the head Of the household busles
himself in turning out works or art, Tor
the most part Of ivory. From the teeth
OF the walrush he carves all OF the ami
mails with which he is familiar-the
whale. the bear the sea lion the reindeer,
the otter. the seal and the wairus itself.
Birds and fshs are not neglected by his
facile knife Whole hunting scenes ne
represents I'm the same material with
many pieces. Men I'm those. fran SKIN
harhS called htahS are SHoNit III FN'
suit Of whales or seals. or reindeer may
be the object Of the chase. Some OF these
articles are intended for ornaments and
feuches. the latter TO be used as charms,
but most of them are designed for barter
with whaling and other vessels.
The Haida Indians OF Alaska are IA
nous for the excellence Of their art
works. They make beautiful dolls, and
their children amuse themSeles by send
ing them TO sea In tiny dugout canoes.
The dolls of the zuni OF Arizona are util-
tied for the purpose OF teaching the chill
dren in religion. They are dressed 10
represent priests and priestesses. Inch
dentally Tor playing with them the chill
Ircn acquire a knowledge Of the ceremo-
malls OF the tribe Rainmaiing Is at first
a game with the small boy. who may
grow up some day to be magaclan ana
rainmaker