SIBERIAN ESKIMO 



i7S 



very long time. All about it lay the mouldering bones of 

 whales, and eight whale skulls in various stages of decay 

 were counted. 



At various points in and near the village were seen old 

 pits dug in the gravel of the bar, in which at times blub- 

 ber is perhaps stored until it can be tried out. In other 

 words, the pits are storehouses, though in this climate, 

 where in the shade at least it is always cold, it would 

 hardly seem that refrigerators were required. 



It was interesting to note that in the case of one of the 

 summer houses, and one of those used in winter, the door 

 was closed by setting up against it the shoulder blade of a 

 small whale. The same bone is sometimes used as a 

 table. 



The men of this village seemed hardy, sturdy, and about 

 as tall as the average man, but particularly robust above the 

 waist. The women, on 

 the other hand, were quite 

 short. One middle-aged 

 woman near whom I hap- 

 pened to stand would not 

 have come up above my 

 armpit. At this village I 

 saw no women of average / 

 height. The men were 

 erect, free walkers, and 

 rather graceful; the wo- 

 men were quite the re- 

 verse, walking with an un- 

 certain shuffle, and often 

 bent forward. The men 

 all had the crown of the 

 head shaved, the hair being cut short all about in a ton- 

 sure. All had scanty beards and mustaches. Several 

 of the older women appeared to be tatooed on the chin, 



ESKIMO MAN AND WOMAN, PLOVER BAY. 



