Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1895 — Esquimaux Character. [ARTICLE]

Esquimaux Character.

Although the Esquimaux laugh at death and make a jest of sorrow, they are none the less indulgent husbands and affectionate fathers. True communists in both theory and practice; unselfishly sharing their last morsel with a smile; a simple, kindly, dirty, good-natured, child-like race, possessing no hope of betterment; giving no thought to the future; systematically forgetful of the past; living only in the present, and making the heaviest burdens of that present light with irrepressible ' cheerfulness of heart 1 An illustration of the apathy with which mortality is regarded by the Esquimaux was afforded by an incident of our cruise. Ten deaths from blood-poisoning had occurred among the natives within ten days, yet there were but few evidences of sorrow or alarm. When I expressed sympathy with a man whom I had employed as a pilot, and who, within a month, had lost his father, wife, child and wife’s brother, he said to me, smilingly: “At chook ! Not so many to feed. Flour dear. No fish. Plenty men hungry. Plenty men die. Ananakl Very good! Byine-bye no more Esquimaux. All sleep—me—everybody. So!” Then emphasized his philosophy with a hearty laugh.