54 THE POINT BARKOW ESKIMO. 



TIk'.v Ikivc. liowcv.T. Mili>i)t('(l vriy few civilized liahits. They liave 

 cniitnictt'd a taste for civilized tc»i(l. es])ecially hard bread and tluur, 

 but this they are unable to obtain for Id uioutlis of the year, and tbey 

 are thus obliged to adhere to their forni(»r bal)its. In fact, except in 

 regard to the use of firearms and mechanics' tools, they struck me as 

 essentially a conservative i)co])le. 



Petroff ' makes the assertion that in late years their movements have 

 been guided chiefly by those of the whalers. As far as we could observe 

 they have not changed the course or time of their journeys since Dr. 

 Simjisou's time, except that tbey bave given up the autumn whaling, 

 possil)ly on account of tbe presence of the sbips at that season. Of 

 course, men who are rich in whalebone now stay to trade witb the ships, 

 while those who bave plenty of oil go east. Tbey are not absolutely 

 dependent on tbe sbips for anything except ammunition, and even dur- 

 ing the sbort time tbe sbips are with them tbey bardly neglect their 

 own pursuits. 



The (me unmitigated evil of their intercourse with the whites bas 

 been tbe introduction of spirits. Ajiart from the direct injury wbicb 

 bquor does to their health, their passionate fondness for it leads them 

 to barter away valuable articles which should ha^"e served to iirocure 

 anmumition or other things of permanent use. It is to be hoped, bow- 

 ever, that tbe liquor traffic is decreasing. Tbe vigilance of the revenue 

 cutter prevents regular whisky traders from reaching the Arctic Ocean, 

 and public ojiinioii among the whaling captains seems to be growing in 

 the right (brectioii. 



Anotlier serious evil, which it would be almost impossible to cbeck, 

 is the unlimited intercourse of tbe sailors ^vitli tbe Eskimo women. 

 The whites can hardly be said to have introduced laxity of sexual 

 morals, Ijut they iia\ e encouraged a natural savage tendency, and bave 

 tanght them prostitution for gain, wbicb bas brougbt about great 

 excesses, fortunately confined to a sbort season. This may bave some- 

 thing to do with the want of fertility among tbe woinen. 



Our two years of friendly relations with tliese iieo])le were greatly to 

 theii- advantage. Not only were our Inmse and (mr doings a C(mstant 

 source of annisement to tbem, but they learned to resjiect and trust 

 tbe whites. Without becoming dependent on us or receiving any favors 

 without some adequate return either in work or goods, tbey were able 

 to olitain tobacco, hard bread, and many other things of use to tbem, all 

 through tbe year. Our jucsence ])revented tbeir procuring moi-e than 

 trifling quantities iif si)irits, and though the sujiply of breech-loading 

 ammunition was luetty well cut off, they could get jilenty of ]>owder and 

 shot for their nuizzle loaders. The abundance of civilized food was 

 undoubtedly good tor tbem, and our surgeon was able to give tbem a 

 great deal of bell) in sickness. 



In all tbeir intercourse witb tbe whites they have learned very little 



'Report, ett'.. \>. IL'5. 



