SUPERSTITIONS OF THE ESKIMO 



along the coast, and kindly shared with them, during the 

 long winter, their igloos, clothing, and food. As the sum- 

 mer of 1866 had been very unpropitious for the capture of 

 the walrus, and the ice during the winter of '65 and '66 

 was unfavorable to the taking of seal, the food-supply of 

 these people was unusually small, and to take care of and 

 feed a whole shipwrecked crew of 32 men, at a time when 

 they could scarcely obtain provisions sufficient for their 

 own families, was a very trying task and taxed their pa- 

 tience almost beyond human endurance. When probable 

 starvation stared them in the face, a council of the little 

 settlements was called to see whether they should endeavor 

 to keep these strangers through the winter or to simply 

 save their own people. It was decided in this council, that 

 as the strangers were thrown, by no fault of their own, 

 upon their shores and, as it were, placed under their care, 

 they should have an equal chance for life with themselves. 

 Captain Barker of the Japan testifies that the Eskimo 

 women in apportioning the food among his men frequently 

 shed tears on account of the smallness of the amount, and 

 often would increase the same by adding portions of their 

 own shares. And all through the long arctic winter, the 

 strangers who were so helpless and entirely dependent upon 

 these people for the food, clothing and shelter which should 

 enable them to survive the arctic frosts, were given the best 

 food that was to be had and the largest share. Those of 

 the crew who were assigned to distant villages also testify 

 to having been treated with the utmost kindness and con- 

 sideration. Captain Barker did not learn, until the plenty 

 of the following spring made further fear unnecessary, that 

 there had been any question among the Eskimo in regard 

 to their supporting him and his crew through the winter. 



A few years previous to the loss of the Japan, the bark 

 South Seaman was wrecked, at almost the same place and 

 under similar circumstances, and her officers and crew were 

 rescued, sheltered, clothed and fed by the Cape East Es- 

 kimo. Could the men of the ill-fated " Jeannette Expedi- 

 tion," when they landed on the north Siberian shore have 

 reached an Eskimo settlement they would have had no 

 story of suffering from exposure, of starvation and of death, 

 such as was related by the few who actually did survive. 



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