Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1914-05-29

flowers. OF trees there are
w none. Illimitable are its sum-
mer muskegs and it's eight
month winter SHOWS. Yet the Eski-
mo is as jovial a soul as any that ever
came from southern lands where life
Is a joy. He is a humorist, although
he feeds on blubber and rotten fish: a
sportsman, although he knows not
soap and water, and a good fellow, al
though the shiftless Cree despises him
and calls him in insult husky"
Scattered over a wide area of the
north, living in tribes distinguishable
to the traveller by slight linguistic
difference and local habits and Gus
toms, the Eskimo from Greenland to
the west coast of Hudson bay, are
one and the same people. They have
the same physical characteristics, live
In much the same way and think
much the same thoughts on hunting
and life as their visitors, the white
men. Even the fierce Nechilliks and
Igluliks of the far, far north with
whom the various trading companies
deal as a rule through other tribes
acting as middlemen), have the same
taboos and angekoks Cor witch doc
tors) and quaint legends.
People of Dirt.
Stunted, squat men seldom averag-
ing over FIVE feet and a half, they are
muscular and strongly built, but slow
Of limb and mind. With their curious
Chinese slanted ayes and inflated nos
trils, they are a people of dirt and
laughter. Their heavy black hair is
worn by the males owe the shoulders
to protect their large ears. Across
their thick lips ONE the fash, as a
rule, of perfect but discolored teeth.
Such Is the Eskimo conference.-the
real lord of the north.
As for the Eskimo bellies. they, too.
have their virtues. Beauty is a ques-
ton Of taste and probably the Eskimo
would not exchange his ~fat-faced.
strong and sturdy mate with dark
brown eyes and natural bust, for the
fairest chorus girl. Very often, too,
when these girls have European blood
in them their looks are far from I'M
comedy.
But to arrive at a real understand
ing Of the Eskimo o must spend a
year at least among them. Thus only
can you arrive at q complete picture
of their strange life wherein trains
and banks and offices and telephones
have no part. For they, like all print
tive races are a nomadic people iv'
t-~ ,-la~ Tho hrI0ht cfaro CO VIC
may see an Eskimo's health, wealth
and content. So, too, you may face
starvation and hardship with him
And again you may watch the wages
Of the civilization that leave him
robbed of furs, pillaged Of livelihood
and branded with disease.
The Eskimo lives by the chase for
he neither ploughs o farms. BY
mean of the chase come his food and
raiment and the fuel that is to warm
him through the long northern winter
His winter mansion is the igloo o.
snow house, his summer home a tupil
or tent of seal and deer skins.
When the days of the north begir
to spread out in January comes the
I6A4lAO . IAl1IC0s tOA t"O
or more life Is a burden, intolerable
and bitter, yet fiercely clutched at fol
all its uncertainty. The ice is storm
seized and the seal on which the Eski
mo depends keep out in the open wa
ter. And it is in this a thu
southern Eskimo strikes his annua
trail for the trade post. where he vii
barter a winters pelts for ammuni
ton, tobacco and white mems baubles
First provisions for the way must b.
found and at no other time are the!
SO hard to obtain. So it comes Il
pass that with a little deer meat re
served over from the fall and with
scant stock of seal, the company set
forth. The long narrow komatikl
are dashed. the dogs harnessed I,
them and the trail goes on in stages
Generally two or three families maxi
them together. An old woman lead
the way. Then come the dogs an
the sleds while scouting on each sid
wander the men in search of sea
holes on the ice. The short day wane
and a small ~snowhouse has to be bull
from a convenient hummock.
Building a House.
First a veteran tests the snow Q
the neighborhood with his knife Tn