132 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
Though not usually quarrélsome or vicious, they do 
fight with each other, but only at appointed times, when 
all old grudges and differences of opinion are cleared up 
at once. On the appointed day, all the disagreeing par- 
ties of the camp pair off, and standing at arm’s length 
from each other, strike turn about, and in this deliberate, 
systematic way take satisfaction out of each other, until 
one of the combatants cries, “'Ta-bah ” (enough). 
The food of the Eskimo, as his name implies, is 
chiefly raw flesh; so the preparation of his meals is an 
extremely simple operation. The culinary department 
of civilization has no place in his life. Reindeer, seals, 
white whales and walruses are to the Eskimo the staple 
articles of food; but polar bears, Arctic hares and other 
animals, besides most of the Arctic birds, are considered 
equally good. . 
It is rather a novel, if not a repulsive sight, to wit- 
ness an Eskimo feast. The occasion of the feast is the 
capture of a seal, or perhaps a reindeer, which, according 
to custom during the winter season, becomes common 
property, so that all are invited to the lodge of the 
fortunate hunter to share in the festivities. | 
The animal's carcase is trailed into the middle of the 
lodge, and when all the guests are assembled, they seat. 
themselves on the floor about it. The carcase is then 
skinned by the host, and the pelt laid down to form a_ 
dish or receptacle for the blood. 
All things being ready, the party, armed with knives, 
are invited to help themselves, and this they do with 
great dexterity, and continue to do—not until they have 
had sufficient, but until the supply is exhausted and abso- 
lutely nothing remains but the skin and skeleton. The 
