410 THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 
I regret much that we did not save and bring home any of the pencil 
drawings made by these people. ‘The children especially were anxious 
to get lead pencils, and made themselves rather a nuisance by covering 
the painted walls of the observatory with scrawls of ships and various 
other objects, perhaps rather more accurately done than they would 
have been by white children of the same age. The style of the figures 
on the hunting scores already described, however, is very like that of the 
pencil drawings.! 
DOMESTIC LIFE. 
Marriage.—As far as we could learn, the marriage relation was en- 
tered upon generally from reasons of interest or convenience, with very 
little regard for affection, as we understand it, though there often ap- 
peared to be a warm attachment between married people. A ian de- 
sires to obtain a wife who will perform her household duties well and 
faithfully, and will be at the same time an agreeable companion, while 
he often plans to marry into a rich or influential family. The woman, 
on the other hand, appears to desire a husband who is industrious and 
a good hunter. There were, nevertheless, some indications that real 
love matches sometimes took place. Marriages are usually arranged by 
the parents of the contracting parties, sometimes when the principals 
are mere children. We knew of one case when a young man of about 
twenty-two offered himself as the prospective husband ofa girl of eight 
or ten, when she should reach a marriageable age. This practice of 
child betrothal seems to be practically universal among the Eskimo 
everywhere.” : 
Dr. Simpson, in describing the marriage customs at Point Barrow, 
says: 
The usual case is, that as soon as the young man desires a partner and is able to 
support one, his mother selects a girl according to her judgment or fancy, and invites 
her to the hut, where she first takes the part of a ‘“kivgak” or servant, having all 
the cooking and other kitchen duties to perform during the day, and returns to her 
home at night. If her conduct proves satisfactory, she is further invited to become 
a member of the family.* 
We only knew this to be done on one occasion; and on the contrary 
knew of several cases where the bridegroom became a member of the 
wife’s family. 
One youth, who had had his lips pierced for the labrets just previ- 
ously to our arrival, was, we soon learned, betrothed to a young girl 
at Nuwttk. This girl frequently came down from Nuwik and visited 
her lover’s family, staying several days at a time, but we could not 
'Compare these with Nordenskiéld’s figures of ‘‘Chukch” drawings, Vega, vol. 2, pp. 132, 133. The 
latter are completely Eskimo in character. 
*Compare Crantz, vol. 1, p.159 (Greenland) ; Kumlien, Contributions, p. 164 (Cumberland Gulf); Hall, 
Arctic Researches, p. 567 (Baffin Land); Parry, 2nd Voyage, p. 528 (Fury and Hecla Straits) ; Schwatka, 
Science, vol. 4, No. 98, p. 544 (King William’s Land); Gilder, Schwatka’s Search, p. 250 (Hudson's 
say); Franklin, First Exp., vol. 2, p. 41 (Chesterfield Inlet); Hooper, Tents, etc., p. 209 (Plover Bay) ; 
Nordenskiéld, Vega, vol. 2, p. 26 (Pitlekaj). 
8Op. cit., p. 252. 
