The Esquimaux women are very fond of their children, and sometimes carry them, when very young, in their large fur hoods, carefully wrapped in furs; in many tribes, however, they use their wide boots for this purpose. The children repay the kindness of their parents by their gentle and dutiful behavior; they never disobey their parents in their slightest commands; if ever they feel inclined to be froward or mischievous, a word or even a look is enough to bring them back to their duty.
The little Esquimaux, nevertheless, are just as fond of play as any other young people, of the same age; only that while an American boy draws a cart of wood, the little northern child has a sledge of whalebone; and for the superb baby-house of the former, the latter builds a miniature hut of snow, and begs a lighted wick from his mother to illuminate the little dwelling.
It must be confessed that the Esquimaux, when grown up, treat their aged and infirm parents by no means with that regard which we might expect from their obedient temper in childhood. They allow them to remain neglected, ill-clothed and ill-fed, even in the midst of plenty. There are many other unpleasing traits in their dispositions; they are ungrateful, and never seem to think the most valuable favor worthy even a “thank you.” On the other hand, they are scrupulously honest with each other; they leave their property exposed around their huts, without the slightest fear that any will be taken. Some English sailors often sent presents by one to another of them, and always found that they were faithfully delivered.
When an Esquimaux falls sick, his friends do not attempt to relieve him by medicine or careful attendance; they merely bring in a juggler or conjurer, who performs a few unmeaning ceremonies. If the patient becomes worse, as is generally the case, they resort to another expedient. All his relations and friends collect together in the room, and hold a crying meeting around him, much like an Irish wake; every one tries to howl and weep the most vehemently, his acquaintances as well as his nearest relations. As might be expected, the health of the sick man is not much improved by this method of treatment.
On his death the same ceremony of crying takes place; the corpse is then buried under the snow, where it is often dug up and eaten by the wolves. In order to prevent this, the English sailors, when the wife of one of their Esquimaux friends was buried, placed several large stones upon her grave; the husband did not seem very well pleased at this, and expressed some fear lest the weight should prove painful to his buried spouse; but when, a short time after, one of his children died, he absolutely refused to have it buried in that way, for he said it was impossible for it to endure the weight of the stones.
The marriage ceremony among the Esquimaux is very simple; the young man, having obtained the consent of the parents of his intended bride, goes to their house and pretends to take her away by force; the female always affects great reluctance, but at length suffers herself to be led away, and thus the marriage is concluded.
With regard to the sciences, the Esquimaux cannot pretend to any great advancement in that respect. From their long wanderings they have a pretty good knowledge of the geography of much of the northern coast of America, and several of them were able to draw maps of those parts of the world, which the English voyagers found very useful and accurate. In arithmetic they are miserably deficient; the most knowing of them could not count beyond ten, even with the aid of their fingers; and when asked for any higher numbers, they were greatly distressed, and are always glad to get off by saying oonooktoot, which may mean any number from ten to a million.
On the whole, these inhabitants of the frozen north seem to be a kind, good-humored race, somewhat selfish, indeed, but honest and frank. They are generally intelligent and quick-witted, and have much natural talent for mimicry. With the benefits of a good education, much might be made of such a people.
[14] Pronounced Es-ke-mo.