ACKOSS THE SUB-AECTICS OF CANADA 



but all live together in peace and unity. Of course, I am 

 here speaking in a general way, for I have already spoken of 

 occasional fights which take place. 



The Eskimo marriage is an exceedingly simple institution, 

 and is not performed in any ceremonious way. It is purely 

 a love union, requiring only the sanction of the parents of 

 the bride. When a young man and young woman come to 

 the conclusion that they were made for each other, and desire 

 to become one, having the consent of the girl's parents, they 

 simply take each other and start up an igloo of their own. 

 Eskimo brides are usually very young, and often very bonnie 

 creatures. They lose much of their beauty, however, in early 

 life, and at about forty mature into ugly old dames. 



An Eskimo family rarely consists of more than three chil- 

 dren, and these are carried in the hood upon their mother's 

 back until they are about two years old. During this time 

 they have no clothing apart from their mother's. Newborn 

 infants are licked by their mother's tongue, and are some- 

 times kept in a rabbitskin or bag of feathers for a time before 

 being carried upon the mother's back. 



It is usual for a man to have only one wife, though it is 

 not uncommon for him to have two, or even three, if he can 

 provide for them. The first Eskimo encountered on our 

 journey, as I have related, had two wives, each having three 

 children. As a rule the men are faithful to their wives, 

 although sometimes they trade with each other for a few 

 weeks or months, and afterwards receive again their first 

 loves. 



If any member of the family is seriously ill, a peculiar 

 kind of prayer is repeated over the afflicted one by the father 

 or mother of the family. The prayer — for it can hardly be 

 called anything else — is loaded vnth superstition. The parent 

 prepares for the ceremony by placing a " poalo," or mit, upon 

 the left hand. Then, bending over the afflicted one, he or 

 she mutters, wails and gesticulates in the strangest manner, 



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