The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-11-21
CUSTOMS OF ESKIMoS.
Few Evidences That They Have Any
npIfof

Few Evidences That They Have Any
Belief Respecting Future Life.
V. Stefansson, ethnolOgist OF the An
glo-American polar expedition, who is
connected with the Peabody museum Of
Harvard university, and who llved with
the ESkimOS last winter at the mouth
of the Mackenzie river, related curious
practices among that people in mani
Testing their respect for the dead, says
the Seattle Acknowledgements.
"The degree of the civilization Of a
nation" said Mr.. StefansSon, lis large
ly measured by the respect shown for
the dead, and curiously enough, while
these Eskimos cannot be regarded as
being civilized. their continued respect
for their dead would do credit in char
acter and sincerity to any of the nations
Of the earth They rear no monu-
ments to mark the resting place Of
their dead and on which to record the
virtues and achievements of their he
roes, but if memory is the only thing
that grief can call her own surely
this one thing is evidenced in affec-
simple and generous people of the far
north. These customs offer some of
the very few evidences that these peo-
pie have any belief respecting future
life.
when a death occurs, the body is
taken to some suitable spot and covered
with debris of various kinds. driftwood
forming a large part Of it. Food, con-
sisting mainly of fish (for this is their
chief article of diet is placed on the
pile along with simple presents of
things they think will be useful to the
departed spirit This is renewed so
long as they have opportunity to do SO.
As they seldom stay longer than one
year in a place. this period marks the
limit of this expression of their sorrow
and interest in the future welfare OF
the dead.
But they do not stop with the CIV
ing of food and presents. And this
throws light on another Of their curl
Gus customs. The name of the dead
person is given to the child next born,
and il no birth occurs until after q
number of the tribe have died, then the
names of all the dead are given TO the
newly born child | know Of one in
stance of nine names being thus given
to child. Then the giving Of presents
is continued, only they are given to the
child. But it must be understood that
in giving them to the child. the pres
ents are really intended for the spirits
of the dead OF course, they do not
exactly speak Of them as spirits, but
they have vague indefinable convic-
ton that somehow and somewhere their
departed friends and comrades still ex'
list and may need their help.
This seems to be the natural express
sion of their communistic practices. Sc
far as food, clothing. shelter and pro-
lection are concerned, everything Is
held in common for the common good
1t is for this reason that unselfiShness
is genuinely VI theSS 80
kimos. Kindness that is limited only
by the simple and unfavored character
of their environment seems to be on
instinct, for even the children are
quiet. obedient and deferentiai to their
elders, and in their play they do mol
appear to have the lively sense of per
sonal rights SO usual in young people
Thus they grow to manhood and WON
anhood. and it seems natural that thell
memory and affection for the dead
should find expression in simple acts
of thoughtful consideration for theil
imagined needs. 1t is ali very pretty
and worthy of careful study. When
60 back amon, this people, as | intend
doing next spring, l shall have oppor
tunity TO gather many more and equal
" curious customs OF these generous
Eskimos."