54 THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 
They have, however, adopted very few civilized habits. They have 
contracted a taste for civilized food, especially hard bread and flour, 
but this they are unable to obtain for 10 months of the year, and they 
are thus obliged to adhere to their former habits. In fact, except in 
regard to the use of firearms and mechanics’ tools, they struck me as 
essentially a conservative people. 
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. 
Simpson’s time, except that they have given up the autumn whaling, 
possibly on account of the presence of the ships at that season. Of 
course, nen who are rich in whalebone now stay to trade with the ships, 
while those who have plenty of oil go east. They are not absolutely 
dependent on the ships for anything except ammunition, and even dur- 
ing the short time the ships are with them they hardly neglect their 
own pursuits. 
The one unmitigated evil of their intercourse with the whites has 
been the introduction of spirits. Apart from the direct injury which 
liquor does to their health, their passionate fondness for it leads them 
to barter away valuable articles which should have served to procure 
ammunition or other things of permanent use. It is to be hoped, how- 
ever, that the liquor traffic is decreasing. The vigilance of the revenue 
cutter prevents regular whisky traders from reaching the Arctic Ocean, 
and public opinion among the whaling captains seems to be growing in 
the right direction. 
Another serious evil, which it would be almost impossible to check, 
is the unlimited intercourse of the sailors with the Eskimo women. 
The whites ean hardly be said to have introduced laxity of sexual 
morals, but they have encouraged a natural savage tendency, and have 
taught them prostitution for gain, which has brought about great 
excesses, fortunately confined to a short season. This may have some- 
thing to do with the want of fertility among the women. 
Our two years of friendly relations with these people were greatly to 
their advantage. Not only were our house and our doings a constant 
source of amusement to them, but they learned to respect and trust 
the whites. Without becoming dependent on us or receiving any favors 
without some adequate return either in work or goods, they were able 
to obtain tobacco, hard bread, and many other things of use to them, all 
through the year. Our presence prevented their procuring more than 
trifling quantities of spirits, and though the supply of breech-loading 
ammunition was pretty well cut off, they could get plenty of powder and 
shot for their muzzle loaders. The abundance of civilized food was 
undoubtedly good for them, and our surgeon was able to give them a 
great deal of help in sickness. 
In all their intercourse with the whites they have learned very little 
d 
1 Report, etc., p. 125. 
