TuiiNEK.] FOOD AND ITS PREPARATION. 233 



Strips of fat from a seal and the blood of tlie animal are put into a 

 kettle and heated. The oily liquid is eaten with the greatest relish- 

 Seal oil is used for food in about the same raauuer as we use syrups. 

 Years of almost daily intercourse with these peoi^le have failed to show 

 the ability of any person to drink seal or whale oil without illness 

 resulting. They never drink pure oil under any circumstances, ex- 

 cept as a laxative. The statement often made that these i)eople 

 drink oil as food is simply preposterous. Such statements doubtless 

 arose from seeing other preparations of food having au abundance of 

 oil upon them. Lean Hesli is often dip])ed into oil and then eaten. If 

 partaken of without oil in as great ([uantities as these people require, 

 a torpid condition of the liver and alimentary canal results, and they 

 thus employ the ])ure oil to relieve themselves. 



Vegetable food is little used except in the vicinity of the trading sta- 

 tions. Those accustomed to the use of flour, bread, peas, beans, and 

 rice are very fond of tliem, and often express regret that they will be 

 deprived of them when on their hunting expeditions. 



Native plants afford little help as food. During the season when the 

 various berries are ripe all the people gorge themselves. They have a 

 special fondness for the akpik {Kuhiis ehwmomortis). The su7i scarcely 

 reddens the side of these berries, locally known as "bake apple," be- 

 fore the children scour the tracts where tliey grow, and eat of the half- 

 ripened fruit with as much relish astlie civilized boy does the fruit pur- 

 loined from a neighbor's orchard. Other berries contribute their share 

 as food. 



When on trips the women often gather a few green herbs and put 

 them in a kettle of water and make an infusion in lieu of tea. They 

 are fond of tea, coffee, and sugar. Molasses is eaten alone or with 

 something dipped in it. 



The Eskimo drink often and astonishing quantities of water at a 

 time. If the weather he very cold they often drink the water which 

 has been heated on a fire, asserting that the hot water does not weaken 

 them as much as cold water would do. 



When a seal has been killed and is being brought to camp, the 

 hunter signifies his success from a distance, and those in camp raise a 

 Joyous shout. The animal is drawn ashore and skinned. The flesh is 

 devoured raw as the process goes on, or may be divided, certain por- 

 tions being given the difterent jjersons. The blood is collected, and 

 when the meat is boiled it is mixed with the hot liquid and forms a 

 nutritious dish, eagerly devoured by both adults and young. The 

 children revel in this dish to a sacrifice of cleanliness. 



The feast is continued until the flesh has been devoui-ed and the peo- 

 ple gorged to their utmost capacity. Stories are told and general 

 good humor prevails. The different species of fish which frequent the 

 shallow waters of the bays are used as food. 



