Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-12-21
NOT FOR THE ESKIMOS
CIVILIZATION WOULD BE A
CURSE TO THESE PEOPLE.
They Are Primitive and Unspoiled
in Their Isolated and Indepsn-
dent Condition, Says
Peary.

Scattered along the shores or an arctic
oasis, the west coast of Greenland, be-
tween Melville bay and Kane basin, a
little tribe of Eskimos-they number
but 253 in all-is found maintaining its
existence in complete isolation and in
dependence.
In several ways these Eskimos are
unique among aboriginal tribes, and
their idiosyncrasies in these matters
compel my admiration and respect,
writes Robert e. Peary, in the New
York World.
They have no unnatural or depraved
appetites or habits, no sttmulants or in
toxicants, no narcotics, no slow poison
ing. Nor do they in any way mutilate or
disfigure the form the Creator gave them
or modify or pervert the natural func-
lions. Neither have they any medicines
Their diseases are principally rheu-
matism and lung and bronchial troubles
The causes of death among the men
come largely under the terse western
expression with their boots on"
A kayak capsizes and the occupant is
hurled into the icy water; hunter
harpoons a walrus or bearded-seal from
the ice; blight Of the line catches round
arm or leg and the big brute drags him
under to his death; an iceberg capsizes
as he is passing it; rock or snow-slide
from the steep shore cliffs brushes him,
or a bear tears him MORALLY with a
stroke of his paw, and so on. Occasion
ally, In the past starvation has wiped
out an entire village.
On the death of man or woman, the
body, fully dressed, is laid straight upon
its back on a skin or two, and some ex
ira articles of clothing placed upon 1t.
1t Is then covered with another skin,
and the whole covered In with a low
stone structure to protect the body from
dogs, foxes and ravens.
A lamp with some blubber Is placed
close to the grave, and If the deceased
is a man, his sledge and kayak, with his
weapons and implements, are placed
close by, and his favorite dogs, har-
messed and attached to the sledge, are
strangled to accompany him.
II woman, her cooking utensils and
the frame on which she has dried the |
family boots and mittens are placed be-
side the grave. If she has dog, 1t is
strangled to accompany her; and If she
has a baby in the hood, 1t, too, must
die with her.
II the death occurred in tent, the
poles are removed, allowing 1t to settle
down on the site, and it is never used
again, but rots or is finally blown away
If the death occurred in an igloo, 1t is
vacated and not used again for long
time.
To many a good person the thought
at once arises: Poor things! why
don't we send some missionaries to
them and convert or civilize them? Or,
why wouldn't 1t be good plan to take
them away from their awful home to
pleasanter region" To both Of these
I answer at once: God willing, never
either" When l think of the mixed
race In South Greenland, which, in spite
Of the fostering care Of the Danish gov
eminent, is still like most half-breed
human products, inferior to either orig
NAL stock; when l think of the miser-
lble wretches along the west coast Of
3affin's bay, vile with disease, vitiated
With rum, tobacco and contact with the
and then think Of my uncon-
animated, pure-blooded, vigorous,
aithful little tribe 1 say: mo; God !
grant no civilization to curse them"
What l have done in the past, and
lope to do in the future, is to put them
n a little better position to carry on
heir struggle for existence; give them
'etter weapons and implements, lum-
,er to make their dwellings dryer, in
tructions in few fundamental sanitary
principles, and one or two items of civ
lized food, as coffee and biscuit, allies
O rout the demons starvation and cold. G
Fortunately for them, with no posses
ions to excite cupidity, with a land in I
hitch no one but themselves could con-
uer living, they are likely to be left /
/ peace, to live out the part appointed d
hem by the Creator, undisturbed by eff
Orts to understand the white mans
ieas of God, Of right, of morality, and
contaminated by his vices or dis t
asses till the Great Night" ends forever
nd the Great Ice" dissolves In the n
onvulsions Of the last day. v
Such are the people who, in Gods wis n
om are destined, perhaps, to be the in
of solving the mystery of the
snturies and giving to this country the !,
st of the great geographical prizes. =