Title: The Eskimo book of knowledge
First published: 1931
Description: Wikipedia (accessed 27 Nov 2012) gives a link to the issue of the Argus Newspaper of Melbourne, Australia, dated August 1st, 1931, which contains a review of this book - probably published originally in London's Sunday Express. It reads as follows-

"One of the strangest and quaintest books of modern times is the "Eskimo Book of Knowledge", which was written in the Eskimo language for the guidance of the little good-humoured fur-clad people who live in snow houses, far out in the frozen lands of Labrador and the Canadian Arctic. Its author is Mr George Binney, its translator into Eskimo is the Rev. W.W. Perrett, for 40 years a missionary in Labrador, and its publishers are the Hudson's Bay Company (says the "Sunday Express").

The first part of the book deals with the King and the British Empire:-

"The greatest ruler of all, who governs with justice White Men, Brown Men, and Black Men...is King George. He is your king ... It is a good thing that a ruler should excel in many things. Not only is King George a man of great prudence and a hard worker; he is also a great hunter. Whether it is in the hunting of fierce animals like the bear, or in the crafty stalking of the deer, or in the shooting of partidges while they fly, no man in the British Empire takes surer aim than our King.
He is likewise a great sailor, which is a fitting thing for a man who lives on an island. He sails his boat faster than all other boats of the same size. You know how exciting it is to match the swiftness of your dog team against the dogs of another hunter. This sport King George also shares with you; for it is a game in many parts of the British Empire to race with big four-legged animals, driven by men riding on their backs." 

The book contains a number of illustrations, one of them being a photograph of the Prince of Wales riding in a steeple-chase. The text beneath the picture is:- "Edward, the eldest son of King George, racing across country on a large four-legged animal called "horse", which eats grass like a deer."

Apart from the Bible, this "Book of Knowledge" is the only printed matter in the native language circulating among the Eskimos."



Wikipedia leads to another reference about it by K.J. Crowe who wrote in 1991 that it was written to improve the fur trade, but it also attempted to educate adult Inuit about health, saving, game preservation, laws and the changes coming to the north. It provides  a longer extract.
Subjects: Eskimo languages, Readers
Time periods: 1931
LC classification: PM64 .B5