The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

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wv clash in charges. arguments
and controversy, the people to
whom at least half the credit is due,
and who much more than any wealthy
mans equipment or arctic clubs back
ing made the discovery of the pole a
fact, the small tribe of Eskimo on Smith
sound, IN northwestern Greenland, re-
ceive scant credit.
It is not only the two faithful COM
panions of Doctor Cook or the four who
went with Commander Peary TO the top
OF the earth who have been Of service
60 science and have aided in the con-
quest Of the farthest goal by the mod
ern spirit of indomitable persistence.
The whole tribe has participated. With
out their dogs TO haul the sleds Of pro-
visions, fuel and instruments the dashes
TO the pole would never have been
made. The sleds themselves are OF Es-
kino type. The explorers own cloth
ing has been replaced by garments
made after the style which centuries
Of arctic storm have taught these sim
pie but ingenious people to be best
adapted for their climate, and has been
cut and stitched by full blood yellow
Eskimo women chewing blubber in
smoky snow huts.
Much in the way of appliances and
methods of conquering the ice the
American pole hunters brought with
them from the lands of civilization;
but they accomplished more yet by
sdoptirg the ways OF the native, unsci-
entifc indeed, but always intensely
practical and based on experience
gained in a perpetual life and death
struggle under the fiercest conditions
ever supported by man in his contest
with hostile nature.
Early arctic exploration failed be-
cause the white man tried to penetrate
the icy darkness with the methods and
organization and ships and tools of the
civilized world. Since he has fought
the deadening and destructive forces
with the Eskimo's own weapons he has
succeeded. We hear no more of entire
expeditions perishing.
The pole has been discovered bcause
the white man has made himself an
Eskimo And the model has been the
little tribe at Smith sound, the "Explor-
er's Eskimo
In southern Greenland and in Alaska
the Eskimo ind life comparatively easy
and comfortable, though under circum-
stances for which other races would
pity rather than envy them. But in
northernmost Greenland, less than 1000
miles from the pole, the struggle foF
existence is of the keenest, and every
nerve must be constantly strained and
every inch of advantage promptly
seized and tenaciously held. merely to
make self preservation possible.
It is necessary to imagine a country
SO cold that there is no vegetation save
moss. and for few weeks annually a
sparse growth of grass and insignih-
cant shrubbery, and so remote that even
the occasional driftlog of more favored
shores does not find its way through
the almost permanent pack ice.
Apart from few implements of rock
and their winter huts Of snow and stone
this devoted band of people is abso-
knows nothing else. Their natural
world contains nothing but ice and
snow, rocky cliffs and the stormy salt
water. The vegetable kingdom does
not exist for them. All they eat, all
they wear, all they use or manufacture,
means Of travel. their summer dwell
ings, everything pertaining to their
life. from the baby's doll to the shroud
Of the dead, is Of animal origin.
Vegetarians maintain that meat eat
ing IS a mistake, and many who hold
less extreme views believe that while
animal food is valuable some proper
ton Of vegetable nourishment is a ne
cessity to health. Possibly they are
right as regards the white race, but
they are certainly wrong If they apply
their theories to the whole Of mankind,
for the Eskimos could eat nothing else
but meat even If they wanted to. Seal,
ground seal and walrus, varied with
walrus. ground seal and seal, are the
ltaple the year round At times carl
bou. polar bear and arctic hare and at
certain seasons fish furnish variety.
Now and then one of the smaller species
OF cetaceans, such as a narwhal or
seluga, is secured; and ducks and their
eggs proNloe od4Hty t4ODlls- meat lat
and entrails are ali priced, but the year
round there is nothing but animal food.
In a remarkable way the diet is re-
6ecfed IN their physical constitution.
Carntvorous animals, living on more
concentrated food than the herbivorous
species. do not need as long intestinal
canals. A dog or a cat, in proportion
10 its size. has much less entrails
than a sheep or a cow or a hog So
these purely man eating people have
been found TO possess intestines shorter
bv several feet than those OF the ON
nivorous white race.