The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-18
LIFE OF THE ESKiMOS

eau-de-cologne would improve the atmos-
phere.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eskimo and Master and
Miss Eskimo wear their clothes very
much as they wear their skins. and
change them about as often. These
clothes consist mostly of soft under
skins, worn with the fur inside. Then
breeches and tunic and heavier, coarse
skins, worn fur outermost and skin boots
and moccasins Their furs are beautifully
cured and dressed; the sewing is done
with fshbone needles and strong fine
sinews for thread and some of the EN-
broidery work-especially on the young
ladies' tunics-is extremely clever.
The Eskimo Is, above all things, q
hunter, on both land and sea. If ne is
going to hunt in his kayak, or small skin
boat. he crawls out of his front door with
weapons calls up the leader of his dog
team. and gives him sound thrashing as
a preliminary. This Is not done out of
cruelty. 1t is merely a gentle reminder
to the leader that he is In charge of the
rest of the team, Mrs. Eskimo and the
family In general until the moment of
his lord and masters return.
To see an Eskimo in his kayak in q
heavy sea is to see an exhibition of the
most perfect daring and Workmanship
conceivable. The kayak Is merely a frail
framework covered with skins, in shape
not unlike an elongated Rob Roy canoe.
There is one small opening In the middle,
Just big enough for him to sit in and
paddle, and q skin apron which he can
tie around himself.
In this craft he will face a sea that a
whaleboat couldn't look at, and to turn
completely over and come, up again smil-
Ing and buoyant is quite common trick
with him.
When he Is after seal or sea lion In his
boat he watches his chance, and then
throws his harpoon, which has long.
rawhide line and bladder attached. The
bladder acts as drag on the animals
movements, and also acts as a guide for
the hunter, enabling him to follow the
wounded seal and dispatch 1t with his
lance when 1t has tired
Some EslSimos have very cunning way
of Harvesting their dogs. Each one Of
| team of seven, say. is harnessed to a sep
arate trace, and all the traces are of diff
ferent lengths, the leaders being the
longest He starts off, and the others
seeing him apparently running away, at
once give chase to try to nip bit out of
him-each dog Juggling at his trace to try
and get a chew out of the next ahead ,
the only result, of course, being that they
put in fine amount OF work on the
sedge. and the cunning Eskimo goes on
his way rejoicing.
The leader Of. the pack has to fight the
| other dogs. and lick them into order; to
hearten up the malingerer on the trail
with tooth and claw; to choose the path
over dangerous ice; and to safeguard the
house In his masters absence
/ Instances are by no means rare OF a
team leader, grown old in harness, dying
of a broken heart after being denied his
usual place in the traces.
The Eskimo has few feelings. He would
/ risk his life for you without thought
but when you go to see him on his ma
tive ice foe 1t Is well to be careful over
uneonsidered trifies--such as knife, or a
pipe, or a baccy- pouch. and above all,
matches
The life of an Eskimo hunter is hard
and bitter; but it makes Of him the grim,
tough. indomitable little man who has
helped to carry many white expeditions
successfully toward the pole, and to whom
many a starving, frozen crew from an
ice-nipped Whaler owe deep debt Of
gratitude.