HOME LIFE IN THE IGLOOS 129 



Cape Russell, I dined with him. The menu con- 

 sisted of boiled walrus meat, which was not at all 

 bad, though of a strong fishy flavor. 



In a previous chapter something was said of the 

 active life of Eskimos particularly during the winter 

 night. Not only do they take advantage of every 

 moment of moonlight during this period, but they 

 often hunt when it is so dark one can scarcely 

 comprehend how it is possible for them to find or 

 kill game. Even at times when they cannot hunt, 

 through stress of weather, they do not sit idle, but 

 busy themselves in making harpoons or other needed 

 implements, or in carving ivory. When one comes 

 to think of it, a great deal of meat is needed to feed 

 a wife and the two or three youngsters, which nearly 

 every Eskimo has dependent upon him, as well as a 

 big team of dogs. And let it be said for the Eskimos 

 that they are possessed of a full sense of their re- 

 sponsibility in this matter. 



The Eskimo has deep affection for his family. 

 He will do and sacrifice more for his children than 

 any people I have ever known, without exception. 

 This kindness extends not alone to his own flesh and 

 blood, but to orphans and other dependents, who are 

 unable to care for themselves. It is so rare for an 

 Eskimo to inflict physical punishment upon a child, 

 that I may say he never resorts to that means of cor- 

 rection; and, I may safely add, it is rarely, if ever, 

 that an Eskimo child deserves punishment, partic- 

 ularly for disobedience. Whether this is due to the 

 fact that the sunny, optimistic temperament of the 



