522 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



Christmas is the period of the autumnal seal-fishery. At this time the men endeavour to 

 capture the seals in their kayaks by driving through the thin ice, or to take them in nets. 

 So soon as the bays and straits become blocked with ice, net-sealing is of course impossible; 

 and the Eskimo then turn their attention to those seals which have been shut up in the 

 bays. By Christmas they are once more settled in their winter-houses, and it is at this time 

 of the year that the missionaries obtain most access to these people. 



Sealing from the kayak has been already mentioned as fully as space permits, but no 

 reference has yet been made to sealing on the ice. When the sea in autumn is frozen over 

 during calm weather, the surface of the ice becomes quite smooth and unbroken, so that the 



seals below are quite cut off from the 

 air. Consequently each seal has to 

 keep open a small breathing-hole, the 

 edges of which are gradually raised, 

 while the surrounding ice is kept thin 

 and assumes the form of an inverted 

 bowl. Approaching the hole in boots 

 with the hairy side outwards, the 

 hunter has to steal up and stab his 

 victim before it has time to become 

 alarmed. This mode of capture is 

 however, only practicable in autumn 

 on the rare occasions when perfectly 

 smooth ice is formed; and in winter 

 sealing involves a weary waiting 

 (maupok) in intense cold at the larger 

 permanent breathing-places. The seal 

 being certain to hear the least noise, 

 the only plan is to take up a position 

 at the hole, and there, it may be in 

 a temperature of 20 below zero, await 

 in perfect stillness its rising, which 

 may not occur for hours. 



In regard to their general character 

 most travellers who have visited them 

 speak fairly well of the Eskimo. It 

 is true that they have been charged 

 with a proneness to lie and thieve; 

 but such accusations Dr. Kink considers 

 to be ill-founded, at any rate in Green- 

 land. In Alaska Baron Nordenskiold 

 describes them, after the disappearance 

 of the first mistrust, as friendly and 

 accommodating, honourable in their 



dealings, although given to begging and to much haggling in making a bargain. The position 

 of the women appeared in nowise inferior to that of the men; and the children, in spite of 

 having no bringing-up at all, would be described as well brought-up. The liking for spirits 

 seemed less strong than among the Chukchis. In this particular instance all the natives seen were 

 heathen, but in Labrador they have been to a great extent civilised and Christianised, and the 

 majority are able to read, write, and cypher. Although their memory is remarkably good, it 

 is in the latter accomplishment that they display the least readiness and proficiency. Their 

 love of music is very marked; and in many of the Moravian stations in Labrador the harmonium 

 or organ is played by a native, while the singing is rendered by an Eskimo choir. As might 



Photo by M. Pierre Petit] [Paris. 



NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN CHIEFS, WITH THEIR WIVES 

 AND CHILDREN. 



