66 



THE LAST CEUISE OF THE MIRANDA. 



cannot help them in so far as their struggle for life in their 

 environment is concerned. With their iron implements they 

 can secure all necessary food ; the possession of fire-arms only 

 leads to wanton destruction, and to the frightening away of 

 the game that is most precious to them. Their clothes, cer- 

 tainly, are better adapted to their climate than any we could 

 make for them, and our most skilful boat-builders could not 

 build them boats that would serve them as well as those they 

 build for themselves. 



The importation of various European products has un- 

 doubtedly worked harm among these now semi - civilized 

 Eskimos. They have acquired a taste for tobacco, coffee, 

 European fabrics, and various knickknacks. In exchange 

 for these doubtful commodities they give their necessities of 



life — s e a 1 s k i n 

 and blubber. 

 Their boats and 

 tents — absolute 

 nee essities — go 

 to rack and ruin, 

 unless the neces- 

 sary sealskin is 

 forthcoming; 

 and in winter 

 without blub- 

 ber they lack 

 both light and 

 warmth. They 

 are an improvi- 

 dent people, and 

 will exchange during their brief summer, for luxuries to them, 

 such as coffee and tobacco, things that are absolute necessities 

 during their loug winters, and so entail upon themselves the 

 severest suffering — even starvation and death. They especially 



ESKIMO HOUSE. 



