File:Northward over the great ice - a narrative of life and work along the shores and upon the interior ice-cap of northern Greenland in the years 1886 and 1891-1897, with a description of the little tribe (14802314333).jpg

Identifier: northwardovergre001pear (find matches)
Title: Northward over the great ice : a narrative of life and work along the shores and upon the interior ice-cap of northern Greenland in the years 1886 and 1891-1897, with a description of the little tribe of Smith Sound Eskimos, the most northerly human beings in the world, and an account of the discovery and bringing home of the Saviksue or great Cape York meteorites
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Peary, Robert E. (Robert Edwin), 1856-1920
Subjects: Eskimos
Publisher: New York, NY : F.A. Stokes Company
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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ancient igloosall along the coast, from Bush-nan Island nearly to the Hum-boldt Glacier. There seemsto be also a definite traditionthat, in years past, the climatewas different from what it isnow, not, perhaps, any warmer,but with much less wind andfoor alono^ the coast. That thetribe previous to my visit waseither increasing or decreasingin numbers I should be stronglyinclined to doubt, it being prob-able that natures balance be-smm tween the population and the ^^V food-producing capabilities of ^H the country had been estab- ^H lished for generations. ^Ml But since my first expedition ^J;;PP;;^^_^ in 1891 there has been a markedpreponderance of the birth-rate over the death-rate, untilthe epidemic of 1895-1896 deci-mated the tribe, carrying offIn the year since, the birth-rate isThis is due, I have no doubt, to the NUPSAH. Showing Male Physique. eleven per cent. again in excess. improved weapons and implements which I have given them, and which have increased the hunting effective-
Text Appearing After Image:
492 Northward over the Great Ice ness of the males at least one hundred per cent, andhave therefore kept the tribe better nourished and inbetter condition to withstand the severities which aretheir daily lot. That this increase will be very con-siderable or continued for any length of time is notlikely, as the balance will again be adjusted. In disposition and temperament these people are a race of children,simple, kindly,cheerful, and hos-pitable. In powersof endurance, incertain directions,they probably arenot surpassed byany other knownrace, and in theiringenuity and theintelligence dis-played in makinguse, to the fullestextent, of everyone of the few pos-sibilities of theircountry whichcan assist them tolive and be com-fortable, they are, in my opinion, ahead of any otheraboriginal race. Of arts, sciences, culture, manufac-tures, and such other adjuncts of civilisation, theyknow nothinor. There is no form of government amono- them, nochief, each man being supreme in his own family

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