GILBERTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 43 



one woman is, as a rule, small, and complete barrenness is not 

 uncommon. (43:150; 30:96; 42:414; 66:189; 16. 1:149; 

 45:29.) 



The chief practical consideration is to have children for sup 

 port in old age. Therefore married couples who remain childless 

 frequently adopt children. Sometimes there is an exchange of 

 children; &quot;somebody wanting a boy hands over a superfluous 

 girl in exchange.&quot; (33:80.) The adopted children receive 

 the same treatment and have the same rights as children born 

 of the marriage. (42 : 419 ; 5 : 580 ; 53 : 221 ; see also 1. 1:311; 

 2:205; 16. 1:155; 30:88; 6:115.) 



This intense desire for offspring is coupled with a strong 

 affection for children. On this point all authorities are in com 

 plete agreement: 



The affection of parents for their children is extreme, &quot; (42: 417); 

 &quot;Love of offspring is of the deepest and purest character/ (55: 191); 

 &quot;Parents have an indescribable love for their children,&quot; (30: 92); are 

 representive statements from different parts of the Eskimo area. Boas 

 says, &quot;The parents are very fond of their children and treat them kindly. 

 They are never beaten and rarely scolded.&quot; (5: 566.) Holm tells of a 

 man of whom the only good thing that could be said was that he had a 

 notable love for his children. (30: 96; see also 19: 81; 16. 1: 149, 174; 

 43: 153; 13: 127, 179.) 



In the desire for, and, though to a lesser degree, in the care 

 of, children preference is shown for boys. Nansen s statement, 

 &quot;When a man-child is born, the father is jubilant, and the 

 mother beams with pride, while if it be a girl, they both weep, 

 or are, at any rate, very ill content&quot; (43: 135), is undoubtedly 

 often applicable, though it must admit of many exceptions. The 

 preference for boys is shown by a belief that a boy may be 

 changed to a girl after birth, as punishment for not observing 

 the birth-taboos. (20:130.) According to Holm, the pregnant 

 wife uses amulets to assure the child s being a boy. (30:90. 

 For illustrations in folk-lore see 53: 390, 456, 458.) 



The reason for this attitude is not far to seek. The solution 

 is suggested in Holm s statement, &quot;As soon as the wife becomes 

 pregnant, her husband regards her as the mother of the future 

 hunter.&quot; (30:90; italics mine.) As Nansen puts it: 



&quot;The boy is regarded as the kayak-man and hunter of the future, the 

 support of the family in the old age of the parents, in short as a direct 

 addition to the working capital.&quot; (43: 135; cf. 1. 2: 205; 16. 1: 155.) 



