GILBEBTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 71 



Two women deserted their husbands, with whom they quarreled, and went 

 to live by themselves. The husbands, wishing their wives back again, 

 sent the women s fathers after them. But these found the women unwil 

 ling to return. The men told the strange story that two women &amp;gt;?ithout 

 the company of any men lived all by themselves, and were never in want.&quot; 



It appears that primitive Enoch Ardens are to be found 

 among the Eskimo. This theme is also dealt with in folk-lore. 



In one tale, the first husbands return to find their wives 

 married to other men. The women are given back to the for 

 mer, who say to the second husbands, &quot;Many thanks to you 

 that ye have provided so well for our relatives.&quot; Certainly a 

 philosophic attitude. (53:196; see also 31:298.) 



Similar tactics to those pursued when two men wanted the 

 same girl, seem to be resorted to if a man wants another s wife. 

 Peary tells us that the former simply says to the husband, &quot;I 

 am the better man,&quot; and the husband has then either to prove 

 his superiority in strength or surrender the woman. (48:59.) 

 So also Nansen says, &quot;If a man takes a fancy to another man s 

 wife, he takes her without ceremony, if he happens to be the 

 stronger.&quot; (43:143; cf. 30:96; 31:330; 20:65:) Sometimes a 

 wife is carried away by another man, at the request of her 

 family, that she may get better support. (30:100.) Cartwright 

 gives an account, perhaps somewhat overdrawn, of a bloody 

 struggle resulting from an affair of this kind. (12.328.) Nel 

 son states that formerly, at Bering Strait, the husband and his 

 rival were &quot;disarmed by the neighbors and then settled the 

 trouble with their fists or by wrestling, the victor taking the 

 woman.&quot; (49:292.) More subtle methods may be pursued. 

 According to Turner, a man may bribe an angakok to get a 

 woman from her husband &quot;under threats of supernatural evil.&quot; 

 (66:189.) Designing women are not above pursuing similar 

 tactics to get husbands away from their wives. (66:189.) 



22. EXTRA-NUPTIAL RELATIONS 



Many writers speak of the freedom enjoyed by the unmarried 

 of both sexes among the Eskimo. For instance, Murdoch writes 

 as follows: 



&quot;As to the relations between the sexes there seems to be the most com 

 plete absence of what we consider moral feelings. Promiscuous sexual 

 intercourse between married and unmarried people, or even among chil 

 dren, appears to be looked upon simply as a matter for amusement. As 



