184 THE NATURAL HISTORY RETIEW. 



drink, but to breathe. The bear follows the seals ; the Arctic 

 fox follows the bear almost as the jackal the lion ; and where 

 blubber is, there will the Esquimaux be gathered together. Thus 

 we find oases of animal life, if we may use the expression, here 

 and there enlivening the frozen deserts of snow and ice. 



Of the Esquimaux themselves, Capt. Hall speaks very favourably. 

 They are, indeed, a singular people, and in one sense any thing but 

 savages. Their implements are made with the greatest skill and 

 ingenuity ; their clothes would pass muster, even with the Ladies' 

 Dressmaking Association. Yet they have no chief, no laws, no govern- 

 ment, and no form of religion. Although with a vague belief in 

 the immortality of the soul they have no idea of prayer ; yet they 

 are dimly apprehensive of sorcery, and are conscious apparently 

 that there is some such thing as supernatural power. This feeling 

 is worked upon by a class of conjurors, who take advantage of 

 it to secure more food, more clothes, and more wives, than w^ould 

 otherwise fall to their lot. Tattooing, among the Esquimaux, as 

 among the Eijians, is regarded as a religious ceremony, a kind of 

 baptism ; nor do they believe that any one will be happy in the next 

 world who has not been tattooed in the orthodox manner in this. 

 As, however, many of the Esquimaux are untattooed, this belief can- 

 not be general amongst them, or must be as little realized as some 

 which are generally professed in civilized countries. Capt. Hall, 

 moreover, speaks of course only of those who inhabit the neigh- 

 bourhood of Erobisher Bay. 



They have many other curious customs, and prejudices. Like 

 all savages, they are anything but free, being slaves to superstition 

 and to habit — which we call precedent. A woman must not eat by 

 herself for a jesir after the birth of a child. At certain periods the 

 women are compelled to live by themselves. At certain times again, 

 certain food is forbidden to them. After walrus-hunting has begun, 

 no one may work on reindeer skins. Women are not allowed to 

 taste the first seal of the season. Many other similar prohibi- 

 tions might be mentioned, most of which, as usual, apply to women. 



Li hunting, the Esquimaux are very skilful. AVith their bone and 

 stone weapons they kill seals, walrus, and reindeer, where, even with 

 the assistance of the rifle, we should fail utterly. In fact, most of 

 our northern expeditions have derived large supplies of fresh meat 

 from the natives. 



"War is entirely unknown among the Esquimaux. Capt. Hall does 



