The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-12
EsQuIMAUx HAVE BAD COLDS.
Lieutenant sPeary's Wards Entrusted to
Care of the American Museum of
Natural History, Arc Ailing.
New York Herald.)

The Esquimaux who were turned over
to the officials of the American Museum
of Natural History for safe keeping by
Lieutenant R. E. Peary, upon his recent
return from the Arctic region, are not
feeling we'll. Several of them are ill.
They have bad colds and are not at all
satisfied with the climate that is served
up to them in this part of the globe.
The Esquimaux have peculiar grunt
when they are ill, and they keep it up
until they get better. There ;, is no ade-
quate way to describe an Esquimau grunt
except by negatives. 1t is not soft or
loud. 1t is neither shrill nor is 1t deep.
1t is so puzzling that you know the deni :
zen OF the far north is ailing and desires
to shake off the trouble by exercising bis
lungs. There is positively no melody In
the grunt.
When these Arctic inhabitants were
taken to the American Museum Of Nat
ural History 1t was not noticed that they
were suffering. They wandered around
| the spacious corridors and halls looking
at the ouriosities, and scarcely saying
word to one another.
| This period of silence was particularly
hSICcstul6 W buS IuuS6ulu auouOTIUicS.
| Any unusual noise in the building de-
stroys the scientific quiet of the place.
The Esquimaux were to be looked at and
were not expected to raise racket. Fin
ally 1.-THE museum attendants heard grunts
OF mysterious nature sounding in vari-
GUS parts of the building. They hustled
around to stop the noise, and found that
the trouble lay with the Esquimaux.
| Now, an EsQuimau grunt is regarded
as anything but scientific. AS long as
the northern denizens chatted in their
language it was all right. Even the un-
savory odors that were occasionally waited
from the party of Esquimaux were borne
with fortitude which was surprising.
The party was hustled to a secludsd part
of the building and medical examine
tion was made.
They've caught cold," said a physi-
clan, after a careful diagnosis.
| The museum officials dosed them with
medicine. This made the Esquimaux
grunt all the more. Finally Lieutenant
Peary, who is out West lecturing, was
informed that his wards were under the
| weather" The Lieutenant sent tele-
gram yesterday, requesting that particu
lar care be taken with the sufferers, and
saying he awould return in about two
| weeks
Before Lieutenant Peary left for the
West he advised that the Esquimaux be
given plenty of air. The museum officials
| have been "airing,' the creatures as
| manufacture Arctic weather. Some one
suggested that they might feel better If
they roaIned around the basement, but
| there did not seem to be much improve.
mont from this course of treatment.
journeyed up to the museum yester-
day and inquired of the superintendent OF
the building, William Wallace, where the
Ecryy 1jy,,u hoinp hn11cod
'Down around here part Of the time, -
| replied he, land up beyond the Harlem
| the rest -
Are they suffering muchS"
well, several of them are quite ILL
We are giving them plenty of air. I can
| not say what will be done with them.
We are taking care of them while Lieu
| tenant Peary is away"
Are they working on EsQuimau mate
rial in the museum?''
"No, they are not feeling well enough,
and we are keeping them quiet. We hope
! to bring them around in better health in
q few days. The change in climate has
told upon them. 1t is natural that they
are ailing."
l walked around the museum corridors
and failed to find any of the Esquimaux.
Mr.. Wallace was thoroughly uncom1nuni-
cative about their whereabouts, but was
led to believe that the poor creatures were
up in the trans Harlem district, trying to
get cool enough to shake off their colds.
They are not very happy and are begin
ming to feel as If they had seen enough Of
this civilization and would like to be back
among the great ice fields, where seals
abound and there is plenty Of blubber.
Another objection they have is in re-
gard to the food. Some Of them have
tried American dishes and looked thor
oughly Disguised after the meals.