300 



THE POLAK WORLD. 



the ear or fore foot of an unfortunate dog is signalized by a howl quite unmis- 

 takable in its import." 



The mere labor of using this whip is such that the Esquimaux travel in 

 couples, one sledge after the other. The hinder dogs follow mechanically, and 

 thus require no whip ; and the drivers change about so as to rest each other. 



In the summer, when the absence of snow prevents the use of sledges, the 

 dogs are still made useful, on journeys and hunting excursions, by being em- 

 ployed to carry burdens in a kind of saddle-bags laid across their shoulders. 

 A stout dog thus accoutred will accompany his master laden with a weight 

 of about twenty or twenty-five pounds. 



The scent of the Esquimaux dog is excellent, and this property is turned to 

 account in finding the seal-holes, which they will discover entirely by the smell 

 at a very great distance. The track of a single deer upon the snow will in 

 like manner set them off at full gallop at least a quarter of a mile before they 

 arrive at it, and with the same alacrity they pursue the bear or the musk-ox. 

 Indeed, the only animal which they are not eager to chase is the wolf, of which 

 they seem to have an instinctive dread, giving notice at night of their ap- 

 proach to the huts by a loud and continued howl. 



In spite of their invaluable services, they are treated with great severity by 

 their masters, who never caress them, and, indeed, scarcely ever take any no- 

 tice of them except to punish them. But notwithstanding this rough treatment, 

 the attachment of the dogs to their masters is very great, and this they dis- 

 play, after a short absence, by jumping up and licking their faces all over with 

 extreme delight. 



It may be supposed that among so cheerful a people as the Esquimaux there 

 are many games or sports practised. One of their exhibitions consists in mak- 

 ing hideous faces by drawing both lips into the mouth, poking forward the chin, 

 squinting frightfully, occasionally shutting one eye, and moving the head from 

 side to side as if the neck had been dislocated. 



Another performance consists in repeating certain words with a guttural 

 tone resembling ventiiloquism, staring at the same time in such a manner as 

 to make their eyes appear ready to burst out of their sockets with the exertion. 

 Two or more will sometimes stand uj) face to face, and, with great quickness 

 and regularity, respond to each other, keeping such exact time that the sound 

 appears to come from one throat instead of several. They are fond of music, 

 both vocal and instrumental, but their singing is not much better than a howl. 



The Esquimaux have neither magistrates nor laws, yet they are orderly in 

 their conduct towards each other. The constitution of their society is patri- 

 archal, but there is no recognition of mastership except such as may be claimed 

 by superior prowess. The rule of the head of a family lasts only as long as he 

 has vigor enough to secure success in hunting. When his powers of mind 

 and body are impaired by age, he at once sinks in the social scale, associates 

 with the women, and takes his seat in the oomiak. They rarely quarrel among 

 themselves, and settle their disputes either by boxing, the parties sitting down 

 and striking blows alternately until one of them gives in, or before a court of 

 honor, where, after the accuser and the accused have richly abused and ridi- 



