DIRT. CHARACTER. 



411 



They are excessively dirty. Considering the difficulty in 

 obtaining enough water even to drink during the greater 

 part of the year, we cannot, perhaps, wonder that they never 

 dream of washing. Their word for dirt, eberk, conveys no 

 idea of anything disagreeable or offensive ;* but in justice to 

 them we must remember that the extreme cold, by preventing 

 putrefaction, removes one of our principal inducements to 

 cleanliness, and at the same time induces so great a scarcity 

 of water, as to render washing almost an impossibility. As 

 a general rule it is impossible to put any dependence on their 

 promises, not so much that they are intentionally deceitful, 

 as on account of the wavering and inconstant disposition 

 which they possess in common with so many other savages. 

 Among themselves a successful huntsman or fisherman is 

 always ready to share his seal or walrus with his less for- 

 tunate neighbours ; but he expects, as a matter of course, that 

 a sufficient return will be made to him, when an opportunity 

 occurs. They give away nothing themselves without ex- 

 pecting to receive as much again, and being unable to 

 imagine any other line of conduct, are naturally very defi- 

 cient in gratitude. Captain Ross, however, and Dr. Eae 

 consider that the Esquimaux encountered by them were 

 neither ungrateful nor particularly selfish. In other respects 

 also these appear to have been very favorable specimens of 

 the race. Though not cruel, the Esquimaux seem to be a some- 

 what heartless people. They do not, indeed, feel any actual 

 pleasure in the infliction of pain, but they will take little 

 trouble to remove or relieve suffering. The Esquimaux are 

 also great thieves, but, as Captain Parry truly observes, f we 

 must "make due allowance for the degree of temptation to 

 which they were daily exposed, amidst the boundless stores 

 of wealth which our ships appeared to them to furnish/' 



* Kane, Arctic Explorations, vol. ii., p. 116. t I.e. p. 522. 



