The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-03-06

1A y the ROOF OF the WOrid Is the
~ Eskimo country. Few are its
E flowers. OF trees there are
W non Illimitable are its sum
mer muskegs and its eight
month winter SHOWS. Yet the .EsBi-
me is as jovial a soul as any that ever
came from southern lands where life
is Il 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 distinguisliable
to the traveller by slight linguistic
difference and local habits and Gus
toms, the Eskimo from Greenland tn
the west coast of Hudson bay, are
one and the same people. They have
the same physical characteristics. live
in much the same way n 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 Tor 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 eyes and inflated nos
trils. they are a people OF dirt IA
laughter. Their heavy black hair is
worn by the males over the shoulders
to protect their large ears. Across
their thick lips comes the fash. a. a
rule, of perfect but discolored teeth.
Such is the Eskimo gentleman-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 a complete picture
CT their TRANCE life wherein trains
and banks and Offices and telephones
have no part. For they, like all primi-
tive races, are a nomadic people liv-
ing under the bright stars. So we
may see an Eskimo's health. wealth
and content. So. too. yON may face
starvation and hardship with him
And again you may watch the wages
OF the civilization that leave hin,
robbed Of furs. pillaged Of livelihood
and branded with disease.
The Eskimo lives by the chase for
he neither ploughs o farms. BY
means 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.
I snov house, his summer home q tupik
] or tent Of seal and deer skins.
] When the days of the north begin
I, to spread out in January comes the
Eskimo's hard times. For two mpnths
A Or more life is a burden. intolerablt
and bitter. yet f~ercely clutched at FOL
all Its uncertainty. The ice Is storm
,eized and the seal on which the Eski
mo depends keep out In the open wa
e ter And il Is in this season TIT
southern Eskimo strikes his annua
e rail for the trade post. where he vii
r barter a winters pelts for ammuni
e lion, tobacco and white mems baubles
First provisions for the way must b.
j found and at no other time are the!
so hard to obtain. SO 1t Il
pass that with a little deer meat re
served over from the fall and with
b ,cant stock OF seal. the company set
d forth. The long narrow komatik
d are dashed. the dogs harnessed t
1t hem and the trail goes on In stages
Generally two or three families max
y them together. An old woman lead
h he 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
n. and q small snowhouse has TO be bull
d from a convenient hummock-
Building . House.
. First a veteran tests the snow G
he neighborhood with his knife tn