li'l PROCEEDINGS OF THE CAXADIAN INSTITUTE. 



would not eat tliey almost wholly subsisted upon. Smoking they 

 dearly love, and the smallest scrap of tobacco is never wasted, even 

 the ash from their pipes is used as snufi", and the idea of expectorat- 

 ing when chewing tobacco is never thought of; and further, disgusting 

 though it is, the straw used in cleaning their ])ipe is always passed 

 between their lips after each cleaning. 



Akhough the Eskimo are cool under ordinary circumstances they 

 become extremely nervous nndei- excitement, and at times were seen 

 trembling viole itly. This was noticed more especially when a walrus 

 had been killed, and others were in sight, when playing a game of 

 cai'ds, and when leaving hurriedly for another part of the coast where 

 seals had been reported. 



Cleanliness, it may be said, is hardly known to the Eskimo unintlu- 

 enced by civilization, for to them apparently everything on earth is 

 clean ; nevertheless they would undoubtedb' be glad to keep the dirt 

 or dust off their bodies if they possessed such things as soap, towels, 

 and water at a temperature rather higher than the freezing point, or 

 we might say water at any temperature during the winter, for then it 

 is as much as they can do to melt enough snow for drinking. During 

 the warmest weather there was nothing they delighted in more than 

 washing their faces when we would give them soap, and it was 

 amusing to see them returning from a neighbouring stream laugh- 

 ing as they showed their faces to one another. 



It is needless to repeat that the Eskimo will steal, for it is a 

 well established fact, yet it is interesting to note some of its effects. 

 Generally speaking all excepting the thief seemed to look upon the 

 act as a great joke when it did not affect themselves, and as far as 

 could be seen it is only fear that keeps them from stealing more 

 from one another. Repeatedly we were asked to guard their goods 

 while they made a journey, and every means possible are used to 

 hide their caches. If during hard times an Eskimo discovers a 

 cache his friends think it a great joke and all join in helping him 

 devour its contents. At the same time the thief stands a chance 

 of being punished by the owner. 



During times when food was scarce they seemed to become care- 

 less and would then steal anything, and at one time some daring 



