Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-01-04
NOT FOR THE ESKIMOS
CIVILIZATION WOULD BE A
CURSE TO THESE PEOPLE.
They Are Primitive and Unspoiled
in Their Isolated and Indepen-
dent Condition, Says
Peary

Scattered along the shores of 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 stNmulants 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
tons. 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
AoAACo IAto taS ICY w dIC1 AuAICI
harpoons a walrus or bearded-seal from
the ice; a 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,
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 it.
1t is then covered with another skin,
and the whole covered in with 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 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
Str angled to accompany him.
Ii woman, her cooking utensils and
the frame or. which she has dried the
family boots and mittens are placed be-
side the grave. If she has dog, it is
strangled to accompany her; and if she
has baby in the hood, it, too, must
die with her.
II the death occurred in a tent, the
poles are removed, allowing it to settle
down on the site, and it is never used
again, but rots or is finally blown away.
II the death occurred in an igloo, 1t is
vacated and not used again for a long
time.
To many a good person the thought
at once arises: Poor thingsi why
don't we send some missionaries to
them and convert or civilize them? Or,
why wouldn't it be a good plan to take
them away from their awful home to
regioR?" To both of these
l answer at once: God willing, never
either" Wien 1 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
inal stock; when | think of the miser-
able wretches along the west coast of
Baffins bay. vile with disease. vitiated
with rum, tobacco and contact with the
whalers, and then think of my uncon-
-blooded. vigorous,
faithful little tribe l say: No; God
grant no civilization to curse them"
What l have done in the past. and
hone to do in the future is TO mt them
in little better position to carry on
their struggle for existence; give them
better weapons and implements. lum-
Der to make their dwellings dryer il
In few fundamental sanitary
and one or two items Of civ
ilized food, as coffee and biscuit. allies
to rout the demons starvation and cold
Fortunately for them, with no posses
sions to excite cupidity, with a land in
which no one but themselves could con-
quer. living. they are likely to be left
in peace. to live out the part appointed
them by the Creator. undisturbed by eff
forts to understand the white mans
Ideas of God, of right of morality. and
by his vices or dis
eases till the Great Night ends forever
and the Great Ice" dissolves in the |
of the last day.
Such are the people who. in Gods wis
com. are destined. perhaps. to be the in
strument of solving the mystery of the |
and giving to this country the |
last of the great geographical prizes.