GILBERTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 31 



have known a young Eskimo so polite that in conversing with Lieut. Ray 

 he would take pains to mispronounce his words in the same way as the 

 latter did, so as not to hurt his feelings by correcting him bluntly.&quot; (42: 

 41 sqq.) 



It is said that the Eskimo language does not contain a single 

 epithet of reproach or abuse. (16. 1 : 158, 170 ; 19 : 69.) On this 

 point, Hutton writes : 



However aggravating the seals may be, an Eskimo does not lose his 

 temper over his hunting; and as for swearing why, the Eskimo language 

 contains no oaths, and the few mild remarks that an Eskimo can make 

 in his own language as Kappianarmgk (how dreadful) or ai&amp;gt;ai-kulluk 

 (that miserable thing), he makes where they can be applied literally. 

 Useless expletives are as foreign to his nature as to his vocabulary.&quot; (33: 

 247.) 



Some of their customs are indicative of their civility. Thus 

 they never enter another s house without being invited. When 

 they come in they do not sit down till the host assigns them a 

 seat, (19 : 70.) The guests do not enter the house until the host 

 has gone in first. (30 : 173.) When a stranger comes to a house, 

 he must never ask for food, no matter how hungry he may 

 be. Nor is this necessary, on account of the universal hospitality. 

 When food is set before the visitor, he does not begin to eat 

 immediately, lest he be thought gluttonous. All the people of 

 the house must retire before the guest takes to his sleeping-place. 

 &quot;It is regarded ill for the guest to retire before the host.&quot; 

 ( 19 : 70. ) Also it is not polite to depart while the host is awake. 

 * When the host began to snore, the guests crept quietly away, 

 says Rasmussen (50:42.) 



A common form of salutation is rubbing of noses, a custom 

 which is falling into disuse (42:422; 2. 1: 67) ; also embracing 

 and caressing (1. 1: 116, 122, 160). Salutations of welcome are 

 not known in East Greenland, but farewell greetings are common, 

 such as &quot;Be careful on the journey,&quot; or &quot;May you sail in open 

 water.&quot; (30:173.) 



We have already referred to the Eskimo s patience under 

 injury. Now the cause of this is not insensitivity to the opinions 

 of others, for as we have pointed out, the Eskimo seems to be 

 very sensitive. But any expression of wounded feelings, outside 

 the drum-dance, is inhibited in the interests of public peace and 

 concord. Crantz statement that &quot;When a Greenlander considers 

 himself injured by a neighbor, he retires without reprisals into 



