30 TRIBES OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 



with the Eskimo, who are very hospitable, says : 

 The men visit one another and spend the evening 

 in talking, singing, gambling, and telling stories. 

 The events of the day are talked over, success in 

 hunting is compared, the hunting tools requiring 

 mending are set in order, and the lines are dried and 

 softened. Some busy themselves in cutting new 

 ivory implements and seal lines. . . . During these 

 social visits, the host places a large lump of frozen 

 meat and a knife on the side bench behind the lamp, 

 and every one is welcome to help himself to as much 

 as he likes. The first comers sit down on the 

 ledge, while those entering later stand or squat 

 in the passage. When any one addresses the whole 

 assembly, he always turns his face to the wall, and 

 avoids facing the listeners.&quot; The young children 

 are not required to go to bed early, so they have 

 a good time playing on the snow couches, which are 

 covered with skins. 



The women sit on the bed in front of their 

 lamps, with their legs under them, working con 

 tinually on their own clothing or on that of the 

 men, drying the wet foot-gear and mittens, and 

 softening the leather by chewing and rubbing. If 

 there is a litter of pups, it is the women s business 

 to look after them, to keep them warm, and to feed 

 them regularly. Generally the pups are put into 

 small harness, and are allowed to crawl about the 

 side of the bed, where they are tied to the wall by a 

 trace.&quot; 



Games, such as cat s-cradle and gambling with 

 dice, are numerous ; there is no money among the 

 Eskimo, trade is by barter, so when gambling, the 



