Ethnological Sketch of the Angmagsalik Eskimo. 59 



When the natives move into tents, only the nearest relations 

 live together, and thus the bond that unites the housemates is 

 dissolved. 



Women have social importance only so far as they give rise to 

 quarrels between the men. Their position is hardly better than that 

 of servants. 



The inhabitants of a settlement often form a society apart, and 

 indeed are often at variance with the people living in another 

 settlement. Thus the inhabitants of the lower part of the Angmag- 

 salik fjord and those of the upper part abused each other roundly. 

 Similar amenities existed between the inhabitants of the three 

 fjords. This did not prevent them, however, from being good friends 

 with one another in outward appearance, when they came together, 

 their notions of the duties of hospitality being very strict. 



Theft is not uncommon amongst the Angmagsaliks, but is com- 

 mitted just as often out of revenge as out of want. Murders are 

 common occurrences, considering the sparsity of the population. 

 Public opinion can be brought to bear on these crimes onlj' in the 

 form of a drum-match, in which both sides abuse each other in 

 song and the lookers-on signify their approval or displeasure. These 

 drum-matches are not settled all at once; the tw^ opponents visit 

 each other in turn in order to perform these drum -matches, and they 

 may be repeated so many times that the contest may last for 

 years. 



When an Angmagsalik has a bone to pick with anyone, he 

 either challenges him to a drum-match, or revenges himself by 

 theft or assassination. They are not ashamed of openly avowing 

 that they have stolen or destroyed another man's property or com- 

 mitted murder, when they have done so in order to avenge a real 

 or imaginary crime. 



The family tie, that is to say the tie of blood, is regarded as 

 an obligation to stand by one another under all circumstances. 

 Marriage is not regarded as a family tie. 



Thus, whereas relationship in the third and fourth degree is 

 respected, the wife is regarded merely in the light of a mistress or 

 a servant from whom the husband can part whenever he chooses. 

 When she has borne a child, however, her position becomes securer. 



As is only right and proper, the husband is the chief person 

 in the family; next after him come the sons, even if they are quite 

 small children: they will one day become hunters and support their 

 parents in their old age. As long as the parents are alive, most of 

 the sons live with them and contribute to their support. However, 

 in some cases, where there are many sons, the younger ones go 



