THE WHITE WORLD 



eyes appear less inclined. The people are more robust in 

 every way, have apparently more intellectual capacity, and 

 with probably more natural strength of character and more 

 barbarous instincts. They were no cleaner than their 

 Greenland relatives. They were clother in skins, mostly 

 reindeer, and they live on the product of the sea. The 

 bones of whales were scattered about in great abundance 

 and were used for a variety of purposes. Whale's skulls 

 were numerous. Some of them, half burried in the soil, 

 weather-worn and moss covered, looked as if they might 

 have been there for centuries. 



But little drift-wood comes to this desolate coast and 

 whalebones are turned to a variety of uses as a substitute 

 for wood. Whale ribs constitute the posts and other sup- 

 ports of the Eskimo homes, more crooked ribs made a 

 fireplace to hang the pot; the vertebrae are used in many 

 ways. I noticed a shoulder blade used as a door for a 

 summer tent, while another was used for a sort of table. 



In winter they live in large houses made by erecting 

 posts of the larger and straighter whale ribs, filled in be- 

 tween with rods making the wall, the whole covered with a 

 roof of walrus hide. In summer, when the floor of these 

 become too wet and muddy, they live in tents made of 

 walrus hide. 



These simple people are very friendly and were evidenly 

 pleased to see us. Mr. Harriman distributed presents 

 among them. The tobacco was very highly appreciated, 

 and there was apparently some regret that it was not 

 accompanied with whiskey. I was much amused at the 

 look of wonder of one of the women as she opened the 

 package given her and saw a gay necklace, strung with 

 large glass pearls. She seemed not to know what it was. 



The dress of the men, women and children is very like 

 that of the eastern Eskimo. The women carry the smaller 

 children on the back within the ample garment. The head 

 usually protrudes, but sometimes no head is seen: a motion 

 like that of a cat in a bag suggests what is there. 



The Asiatic Eskimo, like their neighbors in Alaska, are 

 wasting away, because of the visits of civilized people, and 

 the close of the century will probably find them extinct as 

 a people, now that gold hunters as well as whalers visit 

 the Arctic coast. 



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