h
Christian Eskimoes, who have learnt cleanly and tidy habits from
intercourse with and the example of missionaries. Here there are no
tables; the people have scarcely learnt the use of forks, and are apt
to handle the knives in eating in a somewhat uncouth fashion. The meat
is taken in the teeth and cut off near the mouth, so that the upward
motion of the blade seems to endanger the nose at every bite,
especially in the case of very small children with a very big knife.
Do my readers want to know about the gardens? There are none.
Gardening is no employment for the Eskimoes; the severity of the
climate and their migratory habits forbid it. Nor do they seem to have
much taste for flowers, though they see them in the missionaries'
gardens. They appreciate the vegetables grown there, but they do not
care for the trouble of raising them for themselves.
ON THE BEACH AT RAMAH.
Returning along the beach we see Matthew's skin-covered canoe lying
upside down on the grass, and we induce him to give us a specimen of
kayak navigation. He picks up the end of his light craft, runs round
so as to bring it right end foremost to the sea, and pushes it over
the beach till three-fourths or more are in the water. Then he steps
lightly over the flat top, paddle in hand, sets himself deftly in the
man-hole, and in a moment he is afloat, paddling to and fro with quiet
powerful strokes. Returning at full speed, he runs his kayak, which
only draws a few inches, straight on to the shore; stepping lightly
over the front of it, he stands dry shod on the beach and drags his
kayak out of the water.
Further along a little group of Eskimoes have just finished unloading
a boat, which has brought goods from the ship. Let us join them, for I
want to see a whip, such as they use in driving the dog-sledge. My
request is interpreted and one of the natives runs to fetch his. Truly
it is a formidable instrument. The wooden handle is only a few inches
in length, but the lash is more than thirty feet. It is made of many
thongs of stout, tough sealskin sown together, and tapering till a
single thong goes off almost to a point. The owner gives us a specimen
of its powers by cracking it, but I am glad he does not practice on
anything living. Stepping backwards from us, he drags the whip out to
its full length, so as to be sure he is beyond reach of us, then
deftly throws the lash behind him. Now a rapid movement of the hand
and arm sends the long
|