The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-07-25


larger; but be it remembered that the snow houses
in winter serve them the as tents do in sum-
mer-for not even an Eskimo could live in
tent in their bitter winter weather The little
doorway of the snow-house is so low that one
much get on his hands and knees to enter; and
when the lnnuts crawl through these low doors
they always pull the hood of the reindeer coat
up over their heads to prevent the cold
from these doors rubbing down the back of their
necks Once inside the Igloo, or snow house,
there is just enough room to stand up in; for, on
all sides, rather, around the whole interior, is
built high platform of snow, which not only
forms the bed. but which the lamp stands
where the cooking is done.
A much smaller snow house is usually built in
front Of the igloo door to keep out the wind and
cold; and this storm igloo it is called is usual
ly full Of the Eskimo dogs, who crowd in to keep
out of the bitter wind, although they will sleep
out on the frozen in the coolest weather if
they we'll fed. You may wish to know what
| mean by plenty to eat You may think three
meals day too much, as these dogs do all
the hard work for the Eskimo. Yet, hard as it
may seem. these dogs only fed every other
day, even when there is plenty, and, rule, only
about every third day; while, in times of great
want, the length of time these poor animals will
go without food really seems wonderful. 1 once
had team of nineteen fine fat dogs that
compelled to go seven days between meals for
three consecutive feelings before reached
point where could give them food and
although they grew very thin, not of them died
of starvation, though they had dragged heavy
sledge through a very rough country.
About the first toy a mother makes her baby IS
a small whip, and the puppies allowed in
the snow house, he will reach out with this and
drive the puppies then, he grows older, he has
toy harness made for the young dogs and thus
he learns this important part of his education from
his very infancy. By the time the baby has learn
ed to walk, he has suit of reindeer clothes made
him, and he has also acquired the habit of han
ding the young dogs and they almost well
trained as the grown ones In this way the lit
tie boys grow up to be good dog drivers, and
learn how to manage team of dogs and sledge
under all circumstances This is by far the hard
est thing Eskimo child has to learn, and also
one of the most important.
The Eskimo children have but few toys and
yet they get great amount of pleasure from the
smallest trhes good-natured are they. One
of the toys they all play with is what we would
call "cup-bal" 1t is made of two pieces or
walrus ivory, united by a string of reindeer snew
about six inches in length. The ivory pin is about
as long as the forefnger and end is sharp
ened to about the size of kntting-needle. The
fiat ivory piece "cup- ball." is bored full of
holes, and the object of the game is to mpale this
piece of ivory on the sharp pin Simple as this
toy is, it requires skill to make number
of successful points, which the very little
children play with great pleasure.
Another childish amusement is to take a musk
OK ladle, and partly hll 1T with soup, whrl 1t
around upon a board or fiat rock in the center of
a group of children, and the to whom the
handle OF the cup points when it stops turning is
the victor, and he gets the soup Another game
called by them Woo-g look-took, is played by both
men and boys. piece of ivory about as long as
the forefnger, and maybe little thicker, is pierre
ed near the middle with holes running entirely
through and as thckly placed as can be; through
each end stout string is passed; end holds
it aloft tied to some object, while the other is
fastened to a heavy weight on the ground or
floor Some member of the party then puts up a
prize, and the players stand in circle around
the ivory cylinder, and, armed with sharpened
pieces Of bone. try to place them in the holes in