Social Organization 89 



these things she has received from her kinsfolk before she was married, others 

 she has made herself or obtained by barter, while a few articles may have been 

 made for her by her husband. One or more of the dogs, too, may be her property. 

 Ikpakhuak had five dogs drawing his sled; three belonged to himself, one was 

 Higilak's, while the fifth belonged to his step-daughter Kanneyuk. During the 

 summer of 1915 Higilak's dog bore a litter of young ones. It was not possible 

 to preserve more than two of them, and of these one was given to Kanneyuk; 

 henceforward the girl had to take care of it, and carry it on the march until it 

 was able to walk. Later, when she married, the dog would go with her to her 

 new home. The same girl had a bow and quiver made for her by her step- 

 father, who also made a set for his adopted son Haugak. Other things are given 

 to children, and some they soon learn to make for themselves, such as marrow 

 spatulse and needle-cases. Clothing is always the property of the wearer. 

 Articles picked up while travelling, like copper and pyrites, belong to the finder. 

 Ikpakhuak found a large plank which had drifted ashore in Penny bay, and used 

 it to make two fish-spears for himself. There was more wood than he needed 

 in the plank, however, so he gave the rest to his kinsfolk. 



The amount of property that may be accumulated in these ways by a 

 single individual or family is considerable. It suffices for virtually all their 

 needs, minor articles that they cannot make for themselves being obtained by 

 barter with friends and relatives. How nearly self-sufficing an Eskimo can be 

 is shown by a popular remark that is often quoted: — 



"The man needs nothing but the heavy skin of the bearded seal for 

 his boot-soles, and the skin of the young rough seal for socks." 



Formerly everything except the stores of food and blubber could be carried 

 on a single sled. The last few years, however, have seen a great increase in the 

 amount of property each family owns. 



When the expedition finally left this region in 1916, Ikpakhuak had acquired 

 so many possessions that he was forced to convey them in relays whenever 

 he travelled; and the same was true of other natives. Naturally they require 

 more dogs now to drag their sleds; the problem of feeding them has been ren- 

 dered a little easier by the introduction of firearms. When Mr. Stefansson 

 first visited these Eskimos very few men had more than two dogs apiece^; 

 now four and even five are not at all uncommon. 



In cases of divorce the woman returns to her kinsfolk with all her property, 

 and the man, who has generally no pot or lamp of his own, finds shelter with 

 his people also. I do not know what becomes of the blubber pokes; probably, 

 if they are filled with blubber, they are kept by the man. It is not unusual for 

 friends and relatives to borrow from each other; the wife, for example, may 

 often be seen wearing her husband's coat. If a woman has only one small lamp 

 she will almost certainly borrow another from a neighbour to tide her over the 

 winter. No payment is asked in such cases, although usually some trifle is 

 given, or an extra portion of food sent over to the other hut. It is a curious 

 thing, noticed also among Eskimos elsewhere^, that if the borrower should lose 

 or damage the article he makes no compensation of any kind ; he merely expresses 

 his regret at the loss and there the matter ends. Borrowed articles that have 

 become damaged are usually not even mended before being returned to their 

 owners. On the other hand, if an article, instead of being loaned, is offered as 

 a gift, the recipient feels bound to make a return present of equal value, unless 

 of course he dechnes to accept it altogether. At Lake Tahiryuak I shot three 

 caribou which we were unable to take away with us, so, to prevent the carcasses 

 from being wasted, I gave them to the two famiHes pf Prince Albert sound 

 natives who were remaining there; each family visited me a few minutes later 

 with an equivalent present. Normally among themselves a thing would not 



lAnthrop. Papers, A.M.N.H., Vol. XIV, pt. I, p. 238. 

 i'Boas, Bulletin A.M.N.H., Vol. XV, pt. II, p. 116. 



