226 PROCEEDINGS OF THK CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



than others. The men in these wealthy families, as might be supposed, 

 were either physically stronger or better hunters than their fellows. 



Verv few Eskin.o who had become useless by age or accident were 

 met with and those that were seen appeared to be a great burden 

 upon tlieir people, and although they were treated witli great kind- 

 ness while food was plentiful it required no great prophet to predict 

 theii' death by starvation at any time when food was scarce. 



Early in spring, when for many days we had not been visited by 

 an Eskimo, and supposing they had left this part of the coast, I 

 wandered over to a deserted village and entering an igloo was sur- 

 prised to find an old woman and her son apparently dying from starva- 

 tion, and from tliem learned that a crippled man and his child were 

 ^n the same condition in another igloo near by. Here was a worse 

 case than the fii'st, for with a little strengthening food we were en- 

 aljled to move the woman and lier son to an igloo near the station, 

 but the man was too far gone, nor would he allow his child to be 

 taken from him. Each day food, and a large piece of snow was put 

 bv his side, and althougli unable to use his arms, his child, a little 

 f'irl three years old, fed him. D.jys went by and little improvement 

 could be noticed in his condition, and one afternoon when it had 

 been thawing I walked over to the igloo. Calling as usual as I ap- 

 proached, I received no answer, and coming nearer found the roof of 

 the iffloo had fallen in, and tliere he lay with marVjled face, his eyes 

 now H.xed and turned to sjiace, and his child lay sleeping by him. 

 Wrapi)ed in his bedding we placed the body between a crevice in the 

 rock and covered it with stones, this being the usual mode of buiial 

 with the Eskimo. The child was given in charge of the woman and 

 son, and for some time all were dependent upon us for food. Through 

 neglect the child soon died, and this recalls to my mind a sad scene, 

 but it is needless to relate it here. 



Eskimo opinions upon theological questions are not easily obtained 

 and undoubtedly their faith in all their beliefs is extremely weak, fur 

 when asked to explain they would laugh and would tell you they 

 only performed any of their rites because other Eskimo did so. 

 Another dithculty to contend with is their extreme shyness or fear of 

 beinc laughed at, for on this point they are most sen.sitive. 



