CHAPTER Xiy 



MOONSHINE AND HYGIENE 



WE noticed that several of our Eskimo 

 guests appeared at times to be slightly 

 under the influence of liquor and 

 thought perhaps they had obtained gin or rum 

 from some whaling vessel that had touched at 

 the port before we arrived. We asked the in- 

 tellectual Eskimo where these fellows had got 

 their booze. He pointed to an Eskimo and 

 said, " Him." 



" Him" was a lordly person dressed in elabor- 

 ately trimmed and ornamented skin clothes. 

 From the way he strutted about, we had fancied 

 him a chief. He turned out be a " moonshiner." 



This doubtless will surprise those whose ideas 

 of " moonshiners " are associated with southern 

 Appalachian ranges, lonely mountain coves, rev- 

 enue raids, and romance. But here was an Es- 



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