MY ESKIMOS 387 



they are not a prolific people. ' The females arrive at 

 the age of puberty neither very early nor very late, 

 but according to their own statements they rarely 

 have children, even with every possible provocation, 

 till at least three years later, and I am inclined to think 

 the statement is substantially correct. 



"As the males are considerably in excess there is a 

 constant demand for wives, and girls frequently marry 

 while still as flat-chested and as lank-hipped as a boy. 



"As regards morals, these people do not stand high 

 according to our scale. The wife is as much a piece 

 of personal property, which may be sold, exchanged, 

 loaned, or borrowed, as a sledge or a canoe. It must 

 be said in their favour, however, that the children as 

 well as aged and infirm members of the tribe are well 

 taken care of, and that, for the former the parents 

 evince the liveliest affection. 



"There seems to be no ceremony for marriage (and 

 there is none for birth). The matrimonial arrange- 

 ment is frequently perfected by the parents while the 

 parties are children. 



"As the female is eligible for marriage much earlier 

 than the male, a girl may be appropriated by a man 

 whose wife has died, before her intended is old enough 

 to marry. This arrangement may continue, or her 

 intended may claim her when he is old enough. This 

 is largely a matter of mutual agreement. 



" Young couples frequently change partners several 

 times in the first year or two, till both are suited, when 

 the union is practically permanent, except for tempor- 

 ary periods during which an exchange may be effected 

 with another man, or the wife loaned to a friend. 



