164 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



Running and wrestling are sometimes indulged in,, 

 though not often continued with interest. 



The children play among themselves much as they do 

 in the civilized south. Their favorite amusement is that 

 of playing house, at Which they may be seen busily 

 engaged almost any pleasant summer day about an 

 Eskimo village. The play-houses consist simply of rings- 

 of stones, and for dolls the Eskimo children are content 

 with pretty pebbles or chips of wood or ivory. The 

 actors, with their families, go visiting from one house 

 to another, and have their imaginary feasts and all the 

 rest just as our children have. 



At Cape Prince of Wales, Hudson Straits, the Eskimos 

 have been observed to play at a game of tilting. For 

 this sport a very large igloe is built, having a great 

 pillar in the centre of it. Ivory rings are hung from 

 the roof, and the players, armed with spears, walk 

 rapidly round the pilla'r, and vie with each other in 

 catching the rings on their spears. 



The people are not noted for being musical, though 

 they have some songs. 



The home or family circle is, as a rule, a happy 

 one. It is not broken up by the brawling sot, nor 

 is it often the scene of poverty and want never is 

 this the case while the rest of the community have 

 plenty. All families share alike in times of famine, and 

 in seasons of plenty all rejoice together. Thus there is 

 no such thing as class distinction among them, but all 

 are upon an equal footing ; every man provides for the 

 wants of his own family by hunting. They have there- 

 fore no need for workmen's unions, nor for protective 

 associations, but all live together in peace and unity. 



