32 TRIBES OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 



The education of Eskimo children consists entirely 

 of learning the occupations which will have to be 

 undertaken in later years. Girls practise sewing 

 and preparation of skin garments, while very young 

 boys accompany hunters, and soon become expert 

 in the management of dogs, fishing tackle, and 

 hunting appliances of every type. As soon as a 

 boy shows that he is able to support a wife, he is 

 at liberty to marry ; and though adults frequently 

 arrange that certain children shall marry when 

 grown up, these early contracts are not binding, 

 and there is a good deal of freedom in choosing a 

 wife or husband. In general the husband goes to 

 live with his wife s parents, and so becomes one of 

 the family, which he must help to support ; if the 

 suitor comes from another tribe he may not take his 

 wife to his own people, but is expected to settle 

 with her kindred. After the death of his wife s 

 parents a young man may live where he pleases, 

 but he must always be kind to his wife and treat 

 her well, or she is free to leave him and marry some 

 one else. 



Children are affectionately treated, and according 

 to one traveller are &quot; never scolded or whipped.&quot; 

 Sometimes it. has been said that people of certain 

 tribes kill their children ; such a dreadful proceeding 

 is extremely rare, and happens only when food is 

 very scarce. The Greenland Eskimo say that if a 

 child were killed, its spirit would come back to 

 haunt them. Some people are unable to provide 

 food for the children, then the youngsters are adopted 

 by a relative or friend. Among the Eskimo there 

 are no slaves, some reasons being that time is fully 



