876 The Northernmost Inhabitants of the Earth, 
As soon as the boy has reached his twelfth or fourteenth yea 
he is allowed to accompany the hunters when catching seals, an 
learns to drive the sledge dogs. After the period of puberty the 
girls, in their fifteenth or sixteenth year, have already become — 
sufficiently expert to assist their mothers in the preparation of 
clothing. This together with the propagation of their race att 
the two main occupations of these northerly women, Their 
cooking requires but little knowledge, neither do their other 
domestic duties, except the dressing of the game. — | 
At the time the young man is able to provide for the necessa: — 
ries of life, he takes unto himself a wife. Generally the marriage 
is one of love, rarely of convenience. In case the marriage i$- 
not ordered by the parents, then the consent of the girl's parents : 
is all that is required. The widely spread ancient custom {0 
apparently abduct the girl of his choice, although she may be 
perfectly willing, is the rule. | 
i 
Among the Inuit the communistic mode of life is so p'™ 
nounced that the dower scarcely comes into consideration. 
sledge, a team of dogs and the rude weapons are essenti 
ayik 
5 wee 
total personal property of the man, while the woman owns ¢ — 
lamp, a cooking-pot, a knife and a few needles. 
this we may mention the scanty wardrobe. 
‘ 
Under such circumstances the individual phytic! po me : 
enter largely into the motive of selection. Added to Met” 
to 
In addition to 
A 
; 
those qualifications which may enable the individual # ficiently : 
for his existence. Our knowledge at present 1s not 
advanced to fully enable us to characterize the ideal of physical 
beauty as conceived by savage tribes. The differenti 
ation of this 
ideal, however, will necessarily stand in most intimate Te “adi ‘ 
with the division of labor between the sexes. Wherever 
division is but slight, there we will find the expression 
of cout 
tenance but slightly differing in man and oe teal In how fat : 
As a rule the Eskimo seems to prefer full for 
individual taste may herein be consulted remains to © e 
r vod hunter, %7 
lished. The woman expects the man to 4 of thie requiste 
his endeavor is to obtain a companion possesse 
aptitude to perform her domestic duties. käk only be 
Although marriage is very easily entered into, wr 
annulled with certain ceremonies, Several of our ¢ 
sion to witness a divorce : 
had 00% 
