OCCUPATIONS OF THE ESKIMOS 



way, but both of these characteristics the Eskimos possess in 

 a marked degree, and it is comparatively seldom that acci- 

 dents happen while they are thus engaged. 



These bears, which live almost entirely upon seals, are 

 usually found near the seashore, and often out some distance, 

 swimming in the water, where they can live for a considerable 

 length of time. The Eskimos attack them here as well as 

 upon the land, but in the water they are treacherous enemies 

 to deal with, as they are expert swimmers and divers. They 

 are very liable to surprise one by suddenly disappearing 

 only to reappear at embarrassingly close quarters. 



The Eskimo custom in bear hunting is, that whoever first 

 sees a bear is the owner of the carcase, no matter who kills 

 it; but the skin is divided up among the several hunters. 



A bearskin is so heavy that an Eskimo has no special 

 object in preserving it whole, but he finds the greatest use for 

 it when cut into small pieces. In this condition it is com- 

 monly used by hunters as mats, which they tie under them 

 when crawling over the ice after seals, or across the wet 

 plains after deer. The pieces of bearskin act as skates, upon 

 which they can easily drag themselves along. 



BiKD Hunting. 



The Eskimo method of hunting birds is chiefly with a spear 

 of somewhat peculiar design. It is in all about five feet long, 

 and consists of a wooden handle terminated at one end by a 

 slender barbed ivory or iron rod, sharply pointed. About 

 half way up the handle, three pointed barbed ivory fingers 

 are securely fastened. The handle is then fitted into a wooden 

 socket, which is held in the hand, and from which the spear 

 is thrown. It is claimed that by means of the wooden socket 

 the spear can be thrown with greater precision than by the 

 bare hand, to which it would adhere more or less. However 

 that may be, an Eskimo can hurl his bird-spear a marvellously 

 long distance and with deadly effect. 



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