64 JOURNAL OF RELIGIOUS PSYCHOLOGY 



credence can be given Langsdorff s statement that certain Alas 

 kan Eskimo &quot; cohabit promiscuously, brothers and sisters, pa 

 rents and children&quot; (quoted 2.1:81), except that he may have 

 heard of some cases. 



A practice which seems to have been prevalent among the 

 Eskimo is child-betrothal, decided by agreement of the parents. 

 (53:23; 16.1:146; 42:410; 47:26; 25:567.) This may even go 

 so far that &quot;two friends, desirous of cementing their tie of 

 fellowship, engage that their children yet unborn shall be 

 mated.&quot; (66:188.) However, &quot;these engagements not being 

 strictly binding, may be broken off at any time.&quot; (5:578; 

 cf. 48:60.) In some cases one of the parties may be an adult, 

 the other a mere child, the arrangements being made by the 

 latter s parents. (42:410; 1.1:307.) 



Early marriages are the rule. (30:94; 69:434; 43:139; 

 42:411; 66:188.) Marriage may take place even before pu 

 berty. Holm says that in East Greenland it is not rare that 

 young people marry three or four times before that age. 

 Crantz statement that &quot;a man seldom thinks of marriage till 

 he is twenty years of age&quot; (16.1:145) does not seem to hold. 

 The requisite qualification for the male is that he is a suffi 

 ciently able hunter to provide for the female, and &quot;has the 

 requisite strength to force her to become his wife,&quot; as Turner 

 adds. She must be proficient in the arts which pertain to 

 woman. (66:188; 43:138; 30:94; 42:410.) 



As to the motives for marriage, Murdoch writes, &quot;As far 

 as we could learn, marriage was entered upon generally from 

 reasons of interest or convenience, with very little regard for 

 affection, as we understand it.&quot; He acknowledges, however, 

 that &quot;there were some indications that real love matches some 

 times took place. &quot; (42 :410 ; see also 16.1 :145 ; 30 :94. ) The de 

 nial of the possession by primitive peoples of what is called 

 &quot;romantic love&quot; is a favorite proposition with some writers, 

 as for instance, Finck. But folk-lore and real life furnish 

 evidence of its presence among the Eskimo. (5:615; 31:320.) 

 Nansen s words are well chosen: 



&quot;Love is by no means unknown in Greenland; but the Greenland variety 

 of it is a simple impulse of nature. It does not make the lover sick of 

 soul, but drives him to the sea, to the chase; it strengthens his arm and 

 sharpens his sight ; for his one desire is to become an expert hunter, so that 

 he can lead his Naia home as his bride, and support a family. &quot; (43: 138.) 



