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Intellectual Character of the Esquimauz. 331 
ther in years and strength, help to row the woman’s boat, 
where these are in use; and, in Greenland, even build houses. 
From the twentieth year of a woman’s life to her death, her 
life is a continuation of fear, indigence, and lamentation. If 
her father dies, her supplies are cut off, and she must serve 
in other families. She is thus secured abundance of provi- 
sions, but she will want good clothing; and for want of this, 
especially if she be not handsome in person, or dexterous in 
her work, she must remain single. Should any one take her 
to wife, she fluctuates between hope and fear for the first 
year, lest from want of children she should be repudiated, 
and then her character is lost; she must return to servitude, 
and perhaps purchase the support of life at a scandalous 
rate. If her husband retains her, she must now and then 
take a blow in good part, must submit to the yoke of a 
mother-in-law, or must submit to his having another wife or 
two. If her husband dies, she has no other jointure but 
what she brought with her; and, for her children’s sake, 
must serve in another family more submissively than a 
single woman, who can go where she will. But if she has 
any grown up sons, she is then better off than any married 
woman, because she can regulate the domestic affairs as she 
pleases. If a woman advances to a great age, and has no 
family to keep up her respect, she must pass for a witch ; 
which, being attended with some profit, she by tio means dis- 
likes. 
Notwithstanding all the hard labour, fear, trouble, and 
vexation, the women commonly reach a greater age than the 
men, who are so worn out and enfeebled by passing most of 
their time at sea, in snow and rain, heat and cold, during the 
severest winters as well as summers; by strenuous labour ; and 
by alternate fastings and feastings, that they seldom attain the 
age of 50. Many also lose their lives in the water, so that 
there are everywhere fewer men than women. The women 
frequently live till they are 70, and even 80 and upwards. 
The Esquimaux believe in future rewards and punishments, 
-and, like most other uncivilized races, have traditions concern- 
ing the creation and the deluge. They have their priests, in 
whose sayings and doings they put implicit belief, and their 
