GILBERTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 13 



Nelson adds that, &quot;in some cases, a headman may be suc 

 ceeded by his son&quot; note this clause &quot;when the latter has the 

 necessary qualities.&quot; Boas reports that on the west coast of 

 Hudson Bay cases are known where the leadership passed from 

 father to son ; but there, too, the latter succeeds as leader * on 

 account of his ability. The blessing invoked by an aged leader 

 on his grandson was that he might become a great hunter and 

 whaleman.&quot; (6: 115.) Nowhere does there appear any leader 

 ship by right of birth. Holmberg s statement about &quot;hereditary 

 chiefs,&quot; among certain Alaskan tribes, can be accepted only 

 as perhaps referring to cases like those recorded by Nelson and 

 Boas. (32:78. See also 47. 2:236; 3. Introduction, xii; 

 1. 2:27; 21:390; 48:65.) 



4. CUSTOM IN RELATION TO MORALITY 



The study of morality is intimately bound up with that of 

 custom. As we know, the term &quot;ethics&quot; comes from the Greek 

 &quot;ethos,&quot; meaning custom or usage. Of like signification is the 

 Latin &quot;mores,&quot; from which we have our word &quot;moral.&quot; As 

 Westermarck says, &quot;Society is the birthplace of the moral con 

 sciousness,&quot; and &quot;tribal custom was the earliest rule of duty.&quot; 

 (71. 1: 118-119.) We should, however, be rather critical toward 

 attempts to draw distinctions between &quot;primitive&quot; and &quot;civil 

 ized&quot; people on the basis of the relative importance of instinct, 

 custom, and reason in determining conduct. (See Kroeber, 

 36 : 437. ) This is not to deny the force of custom in primitive 

 society, but to point out its operation in civilization as well. 



The adherence of the Eskimo to custom has been noted by 

 most observers of their culture. For example, Rasmussen states 

 that they 



&quot;base their ideas of life on a series of legends and customs which have 

 been handed down by oral tradition for untold generations. Their dead 

 forefathers, they said, enshrined all their experiences in what they related 

 to those who come after them. And none may accuse the dead of 

 untrustworthiness. Wisdom goes in retrograde direction [italics mine] ; 

 none can measure himself with the fathers of the race, none can defy 

 sickness and misfortune, and therefore people are still subject to the old 

 prohibitions. &quot; (50: 99.) 



Nelson says, 



f The only feeling of conscience or moral duty noted seemed an in 

 stinctive desire to do that which was most conducive to the general good 



