ruRNEKl THE NENENOT. 269 



hiury. I have not observed Indians caiiy such heavy loads as those 

 borne on the shoulders of Eskimo, who, with ease, ascended a hill of 

 sncli abrupt steepness that an unencumbered person climbed it with 

 difiiculty. Several Eskimo men ascended this hill, each ^vith a barrel 

 of tlonr on his shoulders. 



The Indian is able to withstand the effect of cold as well as the 

 Eskimo. The clothing of the latter is certainly better adapted to pro- 

 tect agaiust cold. In times of scarcity of food the Eskimo is able to 

 go without food for a number of days and yet perform a considerable 

 amount of physical labor, while the Indian would re((nire food ou the 

 second or third day, and refuse to move until it had been furnished. 



In comparison with a white man under the same conditions the na- 

 tives of either class would soon show signs of inferiority, and under 

 prolonged exertion but few, even of the Eskimo, wcnild endure the 

 strain. The jirincipal strength of these jjeople is shown in their suc- 

 cess in the chase. 



The children are obedient to their parents, who seldom ever cliastise 

 them. Disrespect to parents is unknown, and in their intercourse with 

 each other thei-e are no clashings during youth. ISTot until the jeal- 

 ousies awakened under the stimulus of their sexual instincts arouse 

 their passions do they begin to show enmity and hatred toward each 

 other. 



The males evidently exhibit jealousy to a less degree than the oppo- 

 site sex. The men, after a protracted absence from each other, often 

 embrace and shed tearsiof joy at meeting. The women are less demon- 

 strative. 



The number of children born exceeds the number of deaths. Mor- 

 tality appeared to be low for the two years I was near these people. 

 The prevaiiing diseases are of the lungs and bowels. The lung dis- 

 eases are induced by constant exposure to extremes of wet and cold 

 and the inhalation of foul air laden with tcrebinthine odors, arising 

 from the resinous woods used for fuel. Changes of the wind blowing 

 in at the door cause the interior to become filled with smoke, which is 

 endured rather than admit the cold air from witiiout. 



Abstinence from fresh food foi' a long time, with dry meat only to 

 subsist upon, is often broken by the sudden capture of deer. This 

 affords an opportunity for gorging until tlie digestive organs are weak- 

 ened and serious complications aris.e. It is quite xirobable that gluttony 

 directly produces half of the illnesses that occur among these people. 

 The insufficiency of clothing does not apparently intluence health, as 

 they seem utterly regardless of exposure, and long continued dwelling 

 in the tents probably induces nearly, if not quite, all the other ills afflict- 

 ing them. Indolent ulcers and scrofulous complications are frequent, 

 but only in few instances are of such character as to prevent their fol- 

 lowing their usual occunations. During illness they are stolid, and 

 appear to suffer intense pain without the twitching of a muscle. When 



