33 



In northern Labrador, the Eskimo used to construct caches 

 for such meat as was not immediately consumed. These were 

 found wherever an overhanging cHff or large boulder could be 

 utilized for a back and roof. The sides were built up of large 

 stones, with a space left within sufficient for a man to move 

 around in. Entrance was through the top. The meat was 

 dried in the spring, and frozen in the autumn, and is said to have" 

 kept well,^ preserving its proper flavour. The Eskimo ate the 

 frozen meat raw, but soaked and boiled the dried meat. 



Turner states that he has seen the Eskimo "strip and de- 

 vour the back, fat, and flesh from the body of the deer while 

 the fibres were yet quivering." I have seen them swarm over 

 a freshly killed whale with their knives in their hands, for a 

 precious chunk of black-skin and blubber. But I do not think 

 that the Eskimo habitually eat meat raw, unless it is some 

 delicate portion, which is then usually eaten in a frozen state. 

 Under ordinary conditions the meat is boiled before it is eaten. 

 The blood {aiiq) of the seal or deer makes a strong and nourish- 

 ing soup, of which all the Eskimo, especially the children, are 

 very fond.^ 



MINOR FOODS. 

 y 



In spring, countless eggs (mwn-ik) are gathered from the 

 waterfowls breeding along the rocky islands and inlets of the 

 coast. The surplus is laid aside until they have a very "gamey" 

 flavour, when they figure in the winter feasts as a special delicacy. 

 Small birds, particularly the little sea-pigeon {pitchulu'x) and 

 "Tinker" duck are secured in summer with the bird dart or net 

 and added to the winter store. 



1 The Moravians early discovered a way of pickling the deer meat, and keeping it indefi- 

 nitely. Those who have sampled it say it is excellent. 



' Dr. Kane, in his Arctic explorations, p. 15, strongly recommendi raw meat, as it is eaten 

 by the Eskimo. He says that as a powerful and condensed heat-making fo6d It has no equal. 

 The Greenland Eskimo that he met used to feed up on raw meat for several days before under- 

 taking a long journey. He got so that he liked it himself, and his system demanded it. 



Dr. Kane also lays stress on the anti-scorbutic value of raw meat. No one ever heard 

 of an Eskimo having the scurvy, although they have little or no vegetable food. 



The Eskimo taste for fat and blubber also has a direct relation to their bodily needs, and 

 is often acquired by Arctic travellers. The late Professor Frank Russel in his Explorations 

 in the far north declares that while in the Mackenzie country he would not have exchanged 

 a litUe square of fat for the finest plum pudding that was ever made. 



