AND ESKIMOS OF UNGAVA. 105 



viteusils, haviug discarded their origiual weapons. They use the gam instead of bow aud 

 arroM% cook a portion of the food consumed by them, and act as laborers for the trading 

 company at various seasons of the year, when their services are required. They are thus 

 dependent upon the white man to a considerable degree. In the month of July, they assist 

 in driving white whales into the pound prepared for their stranding at low tide in the 

 Koksoak River. Cy the middle of August, they are ready to attend to the salmon nets set 

 to take those fish, ascending the rivers to spawn, for the purpose of haA^ing them frozen on 

 the refrigerating vessels which annually arrive to secure a cargo of these fish. After the 

 fishing is over, they depart for that portion of the Koksoak where the reindeer con- 

 gregate for purposes of breeding. This affords the Innuit an opportunity of procuring the 

 food and skins of that creature for the ensuing winter. During the winter they traverse 

 various portions of the vicinity, to hunt fur-bearing mammals, reindeer and ptarmigan 

 for their subsistence. Toward the opening of spring, the men overhaul their kaiaks, 

 umiaks and other property, preparatory to hunting in the open waters of June and early 

 July, which enables them to procure seals and other marine mammals to furnish them 

 with food aud skins — the latter being essential as covers for their boats, tent, boots and, 

 in some instances, clothing. The oil obtained from those creatures is used in their dwel- 

 lings as food or light, and the remainder sold to the trader. 



The women sew, prepare the skins for clothing, and assist at rowing the boat when 

 on a trip in the umiak, and attend to the usual tasks allotted to the women. They 

 appear to have but little restraint placed upon them ; and both sexes, in their social rela- 

 tions, get along well enough as a general rule, until jealousies, false accusations and threats 

 ensue which cause disturbances in the household, and ultimately result in the separation 

 of man and wife. These petty quarrels arise unexpectedly from the machinations of some 

 old hag who declares the accused woman to have been guilty of some indiscretion which 

 in a favorite, would have caused no remark. She may be accused of bringing misfortune 

 upon her husband : a charge sufficient to cause her to become an outcast from her people. 

 She may be wanted by another man, and he intrigues with others to effect a separation ; 

 fancied neglect or carelessness in attentions to the wants of her husband when well or 

 ill, or refusal to comply with the whims of the shaman or his satellites, bring hardships 

 upon the woman that render her life one of misery. Others dwell in comparative peace 

 and rear a family of children, as many as ten in number. Others again have no children, 

 and this is a source of great disturbance in the household ; strangely enough, a barren 

 woman is always the master of the sitiiation, and compels her husband to do as she 

 dictates. One or two wives is the rule, but when the man is able to support more, he 

 may have as many as five. One man had five wives, one of which was the mother of 

 two daughters who were respectively the foiirth and fifth wife of the man. It not infre- 

 quently happens that a mother is only too glad to be the choice of a man having other 

 wives, as she is thus assured of food aud shelter for herself aud family. In case of 

 separation, the woman generally takes the child ; and, if reduced to poverty, she is only 

 too happy when some old woman or childless mother adopts her starving child. 



General Oharacteeistics of the Ungava Innuit. — The recognised authorities 

 among all the Innuit are the older or wealthier men of the community. The latter need 

 not be those farthest advanced in age. Their desires and opinions are usually respected 



Sec. ii, 1887. 14. 



