40 THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 



sores on the face from neglected frost bites are common. Many are 

 blind in one eye from what appears to be cataract or leucoma, but only 

 one case of complete blindness was noticed. Dr. Sutherland states that 

 he does not recollect a single instance of total blindness among the 

 Eskimo that he saw iii-BaffinJjand, and expresses the opinion that &quot;An 

 individual in such a state would be quite unfit for the life of toil and 

 hardship to which the hardy Esquimaux is exposed. The neglect con 

 sequent upon this helpless condition most probably cuts off its afflicted 

 objects.&quot; 



This seems quite reasonable on a priori grounds, but nevertheless the 

 blind man at Cape Smyth had lived to middle age in very comfortable 

 circumstances, and though supported to a great extent by his relatives 

 he was nevertheless able to do a certain share of work, and had the 

 reputation of being a good paddler for a whaling umiak. 



Injuries are rare. One man had lost both feet at the ankle and moved 

 about with great ease and rapidity on his knees. All are subject to 

 bleeding at the nose and usually plug the bleeding nostril with a bunch 

 of deer hair.* 



This habit, as it has been termed, of vicarious hemorrhage seems to 

 be characteristic of the Eskimo race wherever they have been met with, 

 and has been supposed to be a process of nature for relieving the full 

 ness of the circulatory system caused by their exclusively animal diet. 3 



Natural deformities and abnormalities of structure are uncommon, 

 except strabismus, which is common and often, at least, congenital. One 

 boy in Utkiavwin had his forehead twisted to one side, probably from 

 some accident or difficulty during delivery. His intelligence did not 

 seem to be impaired. The people are, as a rule, right handed, but that 

 left-handed persons occasionally occur is shown by their having a word 

 for a left-handed man. We also collected a &quot;crooked knife,&quot; fitted for 

 use with the left hand. 4 



--xs i-SS &amp;lt;A ^V v 



PSYCHICAL CHARACTERISTICS. 



As a rule they are quick-witted and intelligent, and show a great 

 capacity for appreciating and learning useful tilings, especially mechan 

 ical arts. In disposition they are light-hearted and cheerful, not easily 

 cast down by sorrow or misfortune, and though sometimes quick-tem 

 pered, their anger seldom lasts long. 5 They have a very keen sense of 

 humor, and are fond of practical jokes, which they take in good part, 



Mourn. Ethnol. Soc., vol. 4, p. 20G. 



Compare what Davis wrote in 158C of the Greenlanders : &quot;These )&amp;gt;cople are much given to bleed, 

 and, therefore, stoppe theyr noses withdcerc hayre or the liayro of an olau.&quot; Hakluyt. Voyages, etc., 

 15811, p. 782. 



3 Kgede, Greenland, p. 120; Crantz, vol. 1, p. 234 (Greenland) ; Southerland. Joiirn. Ethuol. Soc., vol. 

 iv, p. 207 (Baffin Land); Ohappcll, &quot;Hudson ISay,&quot; p. 74 (North Shore of Hudson Strait); Lyon, 

 Journal, p. 18 (Hudson Strait); Franklin, 1st Exp., I, p. 29 (Hudson Strait); Parry. 2d Voy., p. 544 

 (Iglnilik); Hooper, Tents of the Tuski, p. 185 (1 lover Bay. Siberia). 



1 have an indistinct recollection of having once seen a left-handed person from Xuwftk. 



Holm calls the East Greeulauders &quot;et meget livligt l olkel a-rd Geogr. Tidskrift, vol. 8, p. 96. 



