414 THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 
Dr. Simpson’s description! of the standing of the women at Point 
Barrow in his time is so true at the present day that I may be par- 
doned for quoting the whole of it: 
A man seems to have unlimited authority in his own hut, but, as with few excep- 
tions his rule is mild, the domestie and social position of the women is one of com- 
fort and enjoyment. As there is no affected dignity or importance in the men, they 
do not make mere slaves and drudges of the women; on the contrary, they endure 
their full share of fatigue and hardship in the coldest season of the year, only calling 
in the assistance of the women if too wearied themselves to bring in the fruits of their 
own industry and patience; and at other seasons the women appear to think it a pri- 
vation not to share the labors of the men. A woman’s ordinary occupations are sew- 
ing, the preparation of skins for making and mending, cooking, and the general care 
of the supplies of provisions. Occ 
a seal which her husband has taken, to which she is guided by his footmarks; and in 
spring and summer she takes her place in the boat if required. 
sionally in the winter she is sent out on the ice for 
The statement in the first sentence that the husband’s rule is mild is 
hardly consistent with that on the following page that ‘‘ obedience 
seems to be the great virtue required, and is enforced by blows when 
necessary, until the man’s authority is established.” According to our 
experience the first statement is nearer the truth. We heard of few 
-ases of wife-beating, and those chiefly among the younger men. Two 
brothers, who habitually ill-treated their wives, were looked upon with 
disfavor, by some of our friends at least. We heard of one case where 
a stalwart wife turned the tables on her husband who attempted to 
abuse her, giving him a thorough beating and then leaving his house. 
Wife-beating was not uncommon among the Greenlanders.” We 
did not learn whether a woman brought anything like a dowry, 
but Simpson*® says: ‘“ The woman’s property, consisting of her beads 
and other ornaments, her needlecase, knife, etc., are considered her 
own; and if a separation takes place the clothes and presents are re- 
turned and she merely takes away with her whatever she brought.” 
According to Crantz* a widow in Greenland had no share of her hus- 
band’s property, but owns only what she brought with her, and I am 
inclined to believe that this is the case at Point Barrow. 
One widow of my acquaintance, who appeared to have no relatives 
in the village, was reduced almost to beggary, though her husband had 
been quite well-to-do. All his property and even his boy were taken 
from her by some of the other natives. Widows who have well-to-do 
relatives, especially grown-up sons, are well taken care of and often 
marry again. According to Captain Parry,’ unprotected widows were 
robbed at Iglulik. 
Children.—From the small number of births which occurred during 
our stay at Point Barrow, we were able to ascertain little in regard to 
this subject. When a woman is about to be confined, she is isolated in 
1 Op. cit., p 252. 
2 See Egede, p. 144, *‘ for according to them it signifies nothing thata man beats his wife.” 
3 Op. eit., p 253. 
4Vol. 1, p. 165. 
5 Second Voyage, p. 522. 
