GILBERTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 37 



He quotes Dalager to the effect that they &quot;shrink from relating 

 anything which they are unable to substantiate.&quot; (43:126.) 

 The last-named authority gives the women a less clean record 

 in this regard than the men, a view which is also held by Crantz. 

 (16. 1:175.) 



Murdoch found the Eskimo &quot;generally truthful, though a 

 detected lie is hardly considered more than a good joke.&quot; 

 (42:41.) The context seems to indicate this last clause refers 

 particularly to their relation with foreigners. It may be noted 

 that Amundsen and Stefansson, who both had opportunity to 

 observe many different tribes, agree that natives who have not 

 been in contact with white men are more truthful and honor 

 able in every respect. (58:200.) 



It is undeniably true that some Eskimo resort to deception 

 in their relations with foreigners, particularly in trading- 

 transactions. Holm found it one of their practices to offer 

 the poorest things first. (30:168.) Some natives tried to sell 

 Beechey s party fish skins &quot;ingeniously put together, so as to 

 represent a whole fish, although totally deprived of their interior 

 substance.&quot; (4:391.) Similar tricks were tried on the Point 

 Barrow expedition. &quot;They brought over the carcass of a dog, 

 with the skin, head, feet, and tail removed, and tried to sell 

 it for a young reindeer, and again when the party were buying 

 seal oil from the Eskimo, &quot;one woman brought over a tin can 

 nearly filled with ice, with merely a layer of oil on top.&quot; Also 

 clothing and other articles made for sale to the visitors were 

 carelessly made, compared with the care they put on their own 

 things. (42:41.) It is only fair and perhaps significant to 

 compare with these reports the experience of Dalager, one of 

 the first Danish merchants in Greenland: 



&quot;In describing a thing to another person, they are very careful not 

 to paint it in brighter colors than it deserves; especially in the sale of 

 an object which the buyer has not seen, even though the seller may be 

 anxious to get rid of it, he will depreciate it rather than overpraise it.&quot; 

 (Quoted 43: 158.) 



Turner testifies to their respect for probity in others : 



&quot;They form a permanent attachment for the white man who deals 

 honestly and truthfully with them, but if he attempts any deception or 

 trickery, they are certain to be ever suspicious of him, and it is diffir 

 cult to regain their favor.&quot; (66: 180.) 



