THE MODERN ESKIMO

Evening Star, Issue 21723, 18 May 1934, Page 10

THE MODERN ESKIMO

CANOES WITH ENGINES TAKE PLACE OF KAYAKS Since'the coming of the white man to the Arctic . a comparatively few years'ago the Eskimo (a native word meaning “ meat-eater ”) has learnt much from him, and has not been slow in making intelligent .use. of his knowledge (states a writer in the’ ‘ Manchester Guardian ’)• The traditional blubber-soaked type is. quickly disappearing, arid the next twenty years Will see a still greater change in the Canadian Eskimo if civilisation continues -to send its feelers into his hitherto little-known territory. The Eskimos are a peace-loving, intelligent, hospitable, and happy people, always laughing and joking. They make their living trapping for white fox and other furs, which are bartered with the various trading companies during the summer for all manner, of household goods, groceries, rifles,- and ammunition. If the winter’s catch has been good sewing machines and wireless sets will change hands. One family a year or two ago secured over , a thousand pelts, and the average price was £7 apiece, a particularly successful winter’s work.

Canoes fitted with outboard engines have taken the place of kayaks, and the umiak- (skin boat) has been replaced by schooners, which are used to. transport supplies to far-distant trapping grounds. Many of these vessels are of the most modern type, electrically lit and with Diesel or petrol engines and other up-to-date marine appliances. The , Eskimo is naturally, mechanically. minded, and can carry out engine repairs in a remarkably efficient manner ? ,often making; some small and intricate engine part if necessary. In the handling of schooners he is an expert, -and accomplishes crossings of the Arctio Ocean to Banks Land and other islands without mishap, a creditable achievement in view of the dangers of ice and the remarkable suddenness and severity of the storms.

WINTER QUARTERS. On arrival at the trapping ground the business of constructing a residence for the long winter months ■ is soon attended to.' There are various moth-' ods: the eastern Eskimo prefers the snow house or igloo, but the most popular among the western people" is the ■sod house. Layers of sods are placed one upon-the other until the walls are completed; poles are then laid across the structure to form rafters; this completed, the same procedure is adopted as for the walls. As soon as there has been sufficient snow the house is banked for the outside, making it thoroughly draughtproof. Caribou skins are laid on the floor and provide perfect insulation from cold or dampness. For a window a piece of seal gut is let into the wall, stretched sufficiently tightly to make it almost transparent: failing this a large block of ice is used, but while it lets in sufficient light for the house, nothing outside can be seen.

Heating the house is an expensive business. A few years ago seal-oil lamps were used, but to-day their place has been taken by coal, in spite of its heavy cost (£l2 a ton), due to the heavy ocean freight rate. - Eskimos are particular about dress; they have to be, for their lives may depend on it. The “ artigi ” or coat is made from caribou hide or muskrat. The skins are not stretched but are tanned by hand and sewn with fine sinew obtained from the back of the caribou. The hood of the artigi is trimmed with wolf-or wolverine; these furs are preferred to. any other because the breath will hot frost them, TRAPPING. The trapping season opens in No vembor, and , all members of a family, old enough to drive a team of, dogs take part.. Between them they may, have two, hundred traps to look after, and these'’ need constant* attention, as they quickly become snowed over and consequently useless. . It - takes about fifteen minutes to set a trap, as cars must be used to see that it is properly concealed and baited: rotten fish, on account of the strong scent, is used for this purpose, cut into small pieces, and placed around the trap under the snow. The line will average a hundred miles, arid it may take a week to visit all tha traps, according to the weather conditions and the amount of daylight. If the.weather is, unusually cold foxes do not hunt, and ‘several trips may bo made only to return to camp without a pelt, but traps cannot be neglected cold it is. •in December and January the sun ’ is never seen, and consequently the most has to be made of the hour or so >. of midday twilight. But much of the » work is accomplished by the brilliant Arctic moonlight. There are no unemployed or homeless Eskimos. If through illness or other reason a man has no fur to obtain a winter’s outfit he will get a reliable hunter to stand surety for him with one of the trading companies and repay the debt in fur, or he will ba employed on a percentage basis, giving his employer a portion of his catch: in this way. ho is helped back to a normal life. Some of the more enterprising hunters have several employees—working: for them permanently. Anyone who is too.old to worksamlhas no relatives is temporarily adopted by various families in turn, a year at a time. July and August are holiday tune, and after the ice has broken the schooners return to the trading ports and line the shores in festive array while the occupants sit in circles on the decks and impart a year’s news to each other, discussing everything from the winter’s catch to dog teams. The vounger members amuse themselves plaving games far into the earlv hours of‘the morning, enjoying and making the most of the midnight sunshine.