THE ESKIMOS. 133 



blood, being considered very fine, is dipped up with skin 

 cups or horn spoons, and consumed with the flesh. 



The blubber, or outer layer of fat, which is found on 

 most Arctic animals, is separated from the skin and cut 

 into long strips about an inch square. Thus prepared 

 it is swallowed, though not eaten. It is simply lowered 

 down the throat as one might lower a rope into a well. 

 During the summer season the blubber is not used as 

 food, but is saved for oil, to be used for lighting purposes 

 during the long dark nights of the succeeding winter. 



An Eskimo appears to have no idea of a limited capa- 

 city for food, but usually eats until the supply fails. I 

 knew of one exception, however, where an old woman, 

 -after doing heroically, was forced to yield. 



A party of Eskimos were having a big feast on the 

 carcase of a whale, which they consider very good food, 

 when this woman, in her ambition, overestimated her 

 capabilities and ate until she became quite torpid. Her 

 friends, supposing her to be dead, trailed her out and 

 buried her in the snow, but a day or two afterwards she 

 kicked off the snow that covered her and rejoined her 

 astonished companions. 



Next to stowing capacity, an Eskimo's stomach is 

 noted for its powers of digestion. For instance, both 

 the flesh and hide of the walrus are common articles of 

 food with them, and yet these are so hard and gritty 

 that when skinning or cutting up the animal one has 

 to be continually sharpening his knife. 



The skin of a walrus is a .good deal like that of an 

 elephant, and is from half an inch to an inch and a half 

 in thickness ; but, notwithstanding this, and the hard- 

 ness of its structure, the little Eskimo children may 



