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XXII 



DUCK SHOOTING ON THE ISLANDS 



THE ice to the southward had moved out, save 

 of course the ever present, shifting bergs 

 and floes, and the journey to Etah was to be 

 by boat. So many things had accumulated during 

 the winter that I was kept pretty busy for several 

 hours marshaling my belongings and packing boxes 

 for the trip. When at length this was accomplished 

 conditions were favorable for a good run to Etah 

 and we decided to start at once. Everything was 

 accordingly carried down upon the ice-foot ready for 

 loading, and we were about to launch the boat when 

 Kulutinguah, smiling and very much pleased, joined 

 us and announced that a little baby-girl had just 

 been born to his kooner Tongwe. His mission was 

 to invite me to his tupek to inspect the new arrival. 

 I congratulated him, accepted his invitation, and went 

 immediately to have a look at the youngest child I 

 had ever seen. 



It is the custom of these Eskimos to examine crit- 

 ically all children shortly after birth, and if any de- 

 formity is discovered the child is not permitted to 

 live. Smothering, I believe, is the method employed 

 in destroying life in such cases. Kulutinguah asked 



370 



