ESKIMO LIFE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 45, 4 February 1911, Page 11

ESKIMO LIFE.

A well-known American, sportsman, Mr Harry Whitney, has written a book on. his experiences in the Arctic regions, where he lived through the long winter with an Eskimo tribe, hunting with them and starving, with them, sharing in their hard struggle for an existence. “Real Life, : say a reviewer in The Times, “is always far mo-re amazing than the wilfdest dreams of the romancer,” and even the vivid imagination of Bahiantyne in picturing the Pdlhr night and those who endure it, falls far short The two are “as the light of a blubber lamp to that of the electric arc.’ Mr Whitney was a passenger on board the Eric, which accompanied Pearj as far as Et-ah, his purpose being to obtain some walrus, bear, and muskox shooting. Drifting ice threaten- , ed to shut the vessels in, and the Eric left hastily, leaving Mr Whitney behind, as he had at the last moment ■determined, though quite unprepared, to winter with the Eskimos. His was a unique experience, as few white men could endure the hardships involved in tluat year of unceasing ton for existence. He was received most hospitably by the Eskimos, who. doubtless, -appreciated the honor of his presence among them, as well as the fact that his rifle would materially assist their hunting parties. So they admitted him into their inaie-r--i most lives. He Learnt their language ' and customs, admired their virtues. ] au:l noted their vices. They are, he ‘ s.avs a curious mixture of contraclic-

1 tions. To their wives and children they are passionately devoted, and the latter are hardliy ever punished. Y.et their brutal treatment of their dogs a’nd the whole brute creation i is sickening. They become very ani grv with Mt Whitney when he inter- ! Fered with the small (hikiren’s sport iof torturing Hedgl'irg gulls. In : their hunting and its attendant dangers they are brave, even reckless, ! yet in times of -sudden danger they i become* utterly cowed and paralysed ■ with fear. They have no marriagc ceremony, and mating is alii'owed at a ; very early age, the sole conditions ; being that the bridegroom has killed, i a bear, a seal and a walrus, and that ■ the bride can sew. Life to them :« ! a very strenuous struggle for a bc.<re living.