240 PHYSICAL CONFOKMATION OF ESKIMOS. 



how a man can face a breeze, however light, at 30° or 40° below 

 zero, with pieces of stone in contact with his face, yet it seems from 

 habit the unoccupied openings would be a greater inconvenience 

 than the labrets which fill them. 



Their sight is reniarkabty acute, and seemed particularly so to us, 

 who often experienced a difficulty in estimating the true distance 

 and size of objects on the snow. Their hearing also is good, but we 

 doubt if it possesses the same degree of acuteness. Of the other 

 senses we have not been able to form an opinion. 



While young the women are generally well-formed and good-look- 

 ing, having good eyes and teeth. To a few, who besides possessed 

 something of the Circassian cast of features, was attributed a certain 

 degree of brunette beauty. Their hands and feet are small, and 

 the former delicate in the young, but soon become rough and 

 coarse when the household cares devolve upon them. Their move- 

 ments are awkward and ungainly, and though capable of making 

 long journeys on foot, it is almost painful to see many of them walk. 

 Unlike the men, they shuffle along commonly a little sideways, 

 with the toes turned inwards, stooping slightly forward as if carry- 

 ing a burden ; and their general appearance is not enhanced by the 

 coat being made large enough to accommodate a child on the back, 

 whilst the tight-fitting nether garment only serves to display the 

 deformity of their bow legs. Beyond the front view of the face, 

 they seem utterly regardless of cleanliness ; and though careful in 

 arranging the beads in their hair, they seldom use a comb either for 

 comfort or tidiness. A sort of cleansing of the body generally is 

 occasionally practised, but it is far from deserving the name of 

 ablution. It is but fair to state' that we believe they might be 

 easily taught habits of cleanliness, but these could be attended to 

 with the greatest difficulty, as they have no more water in the long 

 winter than is just sufficient for their drinking and cooking. 

 Around Michselowski, in Norton Sound, some of the women wear 

 cotton garments next the skin ; and on bath days, after the people 

 of the Fort had done, they eagerly availed themselves of the 

 opportunity, when allowed, to wash both themselves and their 

 clothes. 



The hair is worn parted in the middle from the back to the front, 

 and plaited on each side behind the ear into a roll, which hangs 

 down to the bosom and is wrapped round with small beads of 

 various colours. Length of hair generally accompanies softness of 

 its texture, and is considered a point of female beauty. The ears are, 

 with very few exceptions, pierced to support, with ivory or copper 

 hooks, four or five long strings of small beads suspended at a dis- 



