76 NATIVES OF GREENLAND. 



molested waters, kills his seals and wild birds, or transfixes 

 his nimbler game, and in the bosom of his small rejoicing 

 family enjo^'s his good fortune, and trains his son to 

 imitate the prowess and skill of his sire. Living in a 

 manner that requires little from the neighbouring soil, 

 he farms not, he tills not, nor concerns himself in the 

 slightest degree about the right of property in the territory in 

 which he resides : he is consequently free of the broils which 

 such species of property is likely to create. Give him 

 his fishing waters, and leave him undisturbed, " he takes 

 no thought for the morrow." 



The father of a family is to all intents absolute chief; 

 but still his authority is exercised with the mildest sway. 

 To chide for a fault is considered the severest punishment. 

 Blows are never resorted to. It is considered a savage 

 and barbarous act to strike an Uskee, and is looked on 

 with abhorrence. The women are treated kindly, but are 

 regarded as servants, doing all the labours of the house, 

 excepting such parts as the men think their superior un- 

 derstanding only can be equal to. Domestic harmony is 

 seldom known to be disturbed, unless when in the absence 

 of the men some dowager mother exercises her peevishness 

 upon her daughter-in-law, especially if the latter have 

 not the good fortune to have been the mother of a son ; 

 for on the birth of male children they think the existence of 

 the nation rests. 



