THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



Photo by M. Pierre Pe/il] 



AN ESKIMO BELLE. 



[Pun 



the stomach of the reindeer, likewise form items in 

 the menu. It is a common belief that blubber 

 constitutes an important article of diet; but this 

 is a mistake, as the substance in question is far 

 too valuable to be thus disposed of, having to be 

 stored up for use as fuel and lamp-oil during the 

 dreary winter. 



On the other hand, the natives of the interior 

 of Alaska, such as the Nushegagmuts of the 

 Nushegak Basin, who are in constant communica- 

 tion with the Athabascan Indian tribes, are to a 

 great extent hunters of land game, although they 

 also capture fresh-water fish. These inland Eskimo 

 show in many districts unmistakable signs of crossing 

 with their Athabascan neighbours; and Dr. Rink 

 has been enabled to divide the Alaskan representa- 

 tives of the race into the following three sections. 

 Firstly, we have the tall, cadaverous-looking inhabi- 

 tants of Kotzebue Sound, who have always a hungry 

 appearance, and whose food includes fish, ptarmigan, 

 and susliks. In marked contrast to these are the 

 tall and well-built Nualoks of the inland high- 

 grounds, who live on the flesh of the reindeer, the 

 Alaskan big-horn sheep, and various birds, supple- 

 mented to a certain extent by fish. Lastly, there 

 are the short, stumpy Eskimo of the Arctic coast, 



who probably represent the pure-bred race, whose food consists of whale, seal, and reindeer 

 meat. In Greenland the musk-ox is largely hunted. 



In the course of the preceding paragraphs most of the animals which afford the food-supply 

 of these hardy people have been already mentioned. It may be added that, while occasionally 

 they feast on the stranded carcase of a right-whale, a rorqual, or a hump-backed whale (locally 

 known as kepokak), their more usual cetacean prey comprises the white whale or beluga, 

 conspicuous from its glistening cream-coloured hide, and the narwhal, both of which are 

 harpooned from the kayak, or canoe. In addition to these they take several species of true 

 seal, such as the Greenland, or harp-seal; while in the neighbourhood of Bering Strait they 

 come in contact with the eared seals, or sea-bears and sea-lions, the slaughter of which is, 

 however, placed under stringent restrictions at the present day. Whale-skin (matak) forms a 

 favourite article of diet. 



Of all Eskimo inventions, the aforesaid kayak is perhaps the most peculiar and 

 characteristic, and is absolutely essential to the very existence of the shore-dwelling tribes. 

 Although differing locally to a certain extent in both size and construction, it is to be met 

 with from Bering Sea to East Greenland, but only attains its highest development in the 

 latter country. It may be described as a shuttle-shaped canoe, covered with hairless seal-skin 

 tightly stretched over a framework of wood or whalebone, or both.* The kayak is decked 

 over, after the manner of a Rob-Roy canoe, leaving only a space sufficient to admit the body 

 of the kayaker, who, when settled in his frail craft, closes the interval between himself and 

 the deck-cover so tightly, that the whole concern may turn over without admitting any water 

 to the interior. One of these canoes in Greenland measures about 18 feet in length by 2 feet 

 in breadth; and since its weight is not more than half a hundredweight, a man on landing 

 can take it in one hand and carry it up the beach with ease. In addition to the occupant, 



* The British Museum has two kayaks of which the framework is of wood lashed together with whalebone, which 

 is employed like leather thong. The frame is, however, said to be often made of whalebone alone. 



