270 THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



death ai)i)t'oaches it has but httlfe terror, iind is awaited with iiuliftier- 

 ence. 



The remedies employed are only those afforded by the beating of the 

 drum and the mumblings of the shaman, who claims to have control of 

 the spirit which causes all disease and deatli. They are, however, 

 firm believers in the efficacy of potions compounded by the white 

 trader, who is fully as ignorant of the disease as the subject himself is. 

 Often a. harmless mixture of red ink, red pepper, ginger, or other pun- 

 gent substance is given, with a nndtiplicity of confusing directions, be- 

 wildering the messenger dispatched for relief, who, in repeating them, 

 often nuikes mistakes and advises that the whole (juantity be swallowed. 

 The effect is sometimes magical, and the patient recovers. Powders 

 are rubbed over the seat of pain and liniments swallowed with avidity. 

 Strange as it may seem, they often report good effects, and rarely fail 

 to ask for more of the same kind. Both sexes attain a great age — in 

 some instances certainly living over seventy years. Some assert that 

 they were well advanced in years before the white men came in 1827. 



The marriage ceremony is simply a consent to live together, obtained 

 by request if possible, and by force, if necessary. The man takes a 

 wife as soon as he considers liiniself able to supi)ort one. When the 

 ceremony is to be undertaken tlie consent of the girl's parents or near- 

 est relatives is sought, and by holding out tempting inducements in 

 the form of presents, the suitor wins them to his favor. The consent of 

 the girl, if she has not yet been married is, of course, granted, if she 

 desires to comply with the wishes of her relatives. If not, the iiros 

 pective husband is informed that they can do nothing to turn her heart. 

 The matter is understood, and in a short time she is taken foicibly to 

 his or his father's tent. The tie binding the couple is very loose, and 

 on the least provocation may be dissolved by either party. Continence 

 on the part of either wife or husband is unusual, and oidy notorious 

 incontinence is sufficient to cause the offender to be put away. Their 

 sexual relations are very loose among themselves, but their immorality 

 is confined to their own people. To take a second, a third, or even a 

 fourth wife, is not uncommon, but the additional wives ai-e taken jirin- 

 cipally for the purpose of performing labor imposed by the energy of a 

 successful hunter. It is only he wealthy men who can afford a plurality 

 of wives. The several wives often dwell in the same tent, but as jeal- 

 ousies frequently arise they resort to fighting among themselves to 

 settle their dift'erences. The husband looks on calmly until matters 

 go too far. When he interferes the women are sure of being soundly 

 thrashed. A woman, however, often assails her husband, and in some 

 instances gives him an unmerciful pounding, much to the amusement 

 of the bystanders, who encourage her to do her best. The man is a 

 subject for ridicule for weeks afterwards. Either sex can endure being 

 beaten, but not being laughed at. They rarely forgive a white man who 

 laughs at their discomfiture. An amusing incident occurred within a 



