MY ESKIMOS 379 



well as in athletics, he has been considered a match for 

 the average American youth of his age. 



In their own country, Eskimos care little or nothing 

 about acquiring the use of our language. The fact is, 

 their savage environment and continuous struggle for 

 existence is hardly conducive to learning of any kind, 

 beyond the absolute necessaries. Some of the tribe 

 were taught the use of numerals, the alphabet, and a 

 few easy words; and, parrot-like, these pupils had an 

 embarrassing aptitude for picking up the loose words of 

 the sailors. But as to a common means of commimica- 

 tion, their good sense argued that it was much the 

 simpler for us to learn their language. 



Their vocabulary is composed of many complicated pre- 

 fixes and suffixes, and roughly speaking, several hundred 

 radicals. Naturally quick-witted, they find no diffi- 

 culty in expression; and throughout their conversa- 

 tions, the features and the entire body are brought into 

 play. I have often observed the remarkable anima- 

 tion of the eye, the sudden twitching of the mouth, the 

 laggard or the swift movement of the arms and legs, 

 when an Eskimo tells his story. It is thus he excites 

 interest, and the audience is held by the unstudied 

 dramatic effect. 



Shall we mention it? In the Arctic regions as is 

 the case all over the universe, Woman holds the reputa- 

 tion for loquacity; hers is the "last word." 



Churches, schools, and governments are unknown 

 quantities. Yet in every home a perfect system of 

 training goes on for the benefit of the rising generation. 

 At the earliest age an Eskimo lad will be taught the 

 use of his arms in the throwing of a harpoon; a little 



