They display the greatest ingenuity in the manufacture of all their instruments and utensils. The point in their harpoons, and the way they employ the sealskin bag to float the walrus which sinks when it is killed, all show the innate skill and ingenuity in the race. They are never at a loss and never “stumped.” Once someone was repairing a sledge, and he could not find a drill. An Eskimo stepped forward and coolly shot a hole through the runner. They are like that in everything, always alert, always on the job.
Eskimo kiddie with his mother’s coat on.
Even Eskimo boys of Ig-loo-da-houny have a sweet tooth.
Their philosophy of life is also interesting. The hard struggle they wage against the inhospitable environment in which they live has not made them an ill-tempered, sullen race. On the contrary, they are always laughing and smiling. A good joke is much enjoyed. On one occasion several of our photographers wanted pictures of live ducks on the nest. The Eskimos learning of this wish took a dead duck and propped it up on a nest with walrus whiskers so that it looked quite lifelike. Then they motioned to the photographers who cautiously crept forward, making every effort to keep from making a noise. The Eskimos meanwhile nearly died laughing. They are little inclined to worry. Old Panikpa admirably summarized their outlook on life when asked if he was not worried on a very dangerous strip of ice. “No,” he replied, “I let Peary do all the worrying.”
In-you-gee-to makes a coil of rawhide line out of skin
of which he is justly proud.