XX 



WINTER EVENINGS AND STORIES 



The inhabitants of the busy world have no end of 

 amusements, besides their newspapers and maga- 

 zines with which to pass their leisure hours. It is 

 not so with the less fortunate inhabitants of the far 

 north. Their winter evenings are long and their 

 homes but dimly lighted by the seal-oil lamps. To 

 the uninitiated, it would seem a dreary sight, yet 

 the people have their enjoyment in the shape of an 

 occasional dance, a most innocent form of amuse- 

 ment, being as much singing as dancing, accom- 

 panied by the beating of the one-headed drum. 



The dancer stands up and makes a few graceful 

 movements with the arms, as well as limbering at 

 the knee joints, then sits down. Others go through 

 the same motions in their turn, while the audience 

 does the singing. Their main festivities occur at 

 the full of the moon, in the month of "Nekanok- 

 kochevik," corresponding to our December, at which 

 time, besides the dancing and feasting, presents are 

 given by the leading men. 

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