Life and work of the Rev. E.J. Peck among the Eskimos (1904) (14760952586)

Identifier: lifeworkofrevejp00lewi (find matches)
Title: Life and work of the Rev. E.J. Peck among the Eskimos
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Lewis, Arthur, 1854-1951
Subjects: Peck, Edmund James, 1850- Eskimos
Publisher: New York, A.C. Armstrong & Son
Contributing Library: School of Theology, Boston University
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries



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ed Mr. Peck round and studied hisfigure, went away, and in due time brought theclothes, which proved to be an admirable fit. No picture of the home life perhaps ought to beregarded as complete without some few remarksconcerning that which produces it—marriage.Children are usually betrothed by their relatives ata very early age ; but these engagements are some-times broken off later on. When the childrenreach maturity the girl learns the duties of a house-wife. As soon as the boy is able to provide for afamily and the girl can do her necessary work, thecouple are allowed to marry. In cases where nobetrothal has taken place in childhood, men lookout for wives as soon as they arrive at the age ofmaturity. Sometimes the services of a mediator ormatchmaker are secured. After the marriage hastaken place the young people generally begin lifewith the parents of the bride : and if the husbandand his wife belong to different tribes the formermust join that of the latter. It is not until after
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ESKIMO WOMAN AND CHILDREN. ESKIMOS AT HOME AND AT WORK 55 the death of his parents-in-law that the man is com-pletely his own master. The list of things necessary for starting house-keeping is an extremely limited one. The ladyneeds her sewing materials — a circular knife forcutting out skin garments, a stone kettle, and alamp. The gentlemans outfit consists of hisdogs sledge and hunting weapons. He joins nobuilding society ; purchases no building site ; knowsno landlord, no tax-gatherer, no rate-collector;leases and agreements are farther removed fromhim than the myths of the Greeks; he knowsonly one system of dwelling upon the earth,namely, that of Gods freehold, and he builds hissnow-house or pitches his tent, according to theseason, where he will; and when game is fairlyabundant he appears to lead a very happy life. Polygamy is not common among the Eskimos ;it is not, however, regarded as improper. It isprobably the difficulty of providing for morethan one wife and family which