132 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



Though not usually quarrelsome or vicious, they do- 

 fight with each other, but only at appointed times, when 

 all old grudges and differences of opinion are cleared up 

 at once. On the appointed day, all the disagreeing par- 

 ties of the camp pair off, and standing at arm's length 

 from each other, strike turn about, and in this deliberate, 

 systematic way take satisfaction out of each other, until 

 one of the combatants cries, " Ta-bah " (enough). 



The food of the Eskimo, as his name implies, is- 

 chiefly raw flesh ; so the preparation of his meals is an 

 extremely simple operation. The culinary department 

 of civilization has no place in his life. Reindeer, seals, 

 white whales and walruses are to the Eskimo the staple 

 articles of food ; but polar bears, Arctic hares and other 

 animals, besides most of the Arctic birds, are considered 

 equally good. 



It is rather a novel, if not a repulsive sight, to wit- 

 ness an Eskimo feast. The occasion of the feast is the 

 capture of a seal, or perhaps a reindeer, which, according 

 to custom during the winter season, becomes common 

 property, so that all are invited to the lodge of the 

 fortunate hunter to share in the festivities. 



The animal's carcase is trailed into the middle of the 

 lodge, and when all the guests are assembled, they seat 

 themselves on the floor about it. The carcase is then 

 skinned by the host, and the pelt laid down to form a 

 dish or receptacle for the blood. 



All things being ready, the party, armed with knives, 

 are invited to help themselves, and this they do with 

 great dexterity, and continue to do not until they have 

 had sufficient, but until the supply is exhausted and abso- 

 lutely nothing remains but the skin and skeleton. The 



