LIFE OF ESKIMOS (BY CARLOS)

THEY ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ADAPTATION TO ENVIRONMENT IN SEVERELY HARD CONDITIONS WHICH DO NOT EVEN PERMIT ANY PLANT GROWTH, SO THEIR ACITIVITIES ARE ONLY HUNTING AND FISHING.

 IT IS SAID THAT THEIR SETTLEMENT IN THE COLDEST REGIONS AROUND THE PLANET MUST BE FOR THE REFUSAL THEY WERE OBJECT BY AMERICAN INDIANS WHEN THEY CAME TO ALASKA.

ALTHOUGH THEY LIVE IN A VERY EXTENSIVE AREA WITH FEW OPPORTUNITIES OF MEETING, THEY HAVE PRESERVED THEIR HABITS AND THEIR CULTURE.

DESPITE BEING SO ISOLATED AND NO PART OF ANY NATION, THEY ARE  PACIFIC AND HOSPITABLE PEOPLE AND THEY SHOW A LOT OF SOLIDARITY.

THEY ARE SHORT (BODY HEIGHT-1,60 MAN-1,50 WOMEN), THEY HAVE A STRONG BODY AND SMALL ARMS.

THEY INVENTED THE SLEDS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE.  INITIALLY THE SLED WAS PULLED BY MEN BUT AFTERWARDS DOGS PULLED THEM  ALSO TO HARASS AND HUNT THEIR PREYS.

FORMERLY THEY HUNTED USING BOWS, ARROWS AND LANCES OR SPEARS WITH  BONES AS A TIP, CURRENTLY THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM BY FIREARMS.

IN WINTER TIME THEY TRAVEL TO THE COAST FOR HUNTING SEALS, BEARS AND WALRUS ON ICE.  IN SPRING TIME, THEY DO IT FROM THE SEA,  FROM THEIR KAYAKS.

THE KAYAKS ARE BUILT BY A WHALE BONED FRAME AND LINED WITH SEALS OR WALRUS LEATHER.  THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE OTHER BOATS CALLED UMIAK MADE OF WOOD AND LEATHER FOR HALF A DOZEN OF HUNTERS. CURRENTLY THEY HAVE MOTORBOATS.

FROM THE ANIMALS THEY HUNT, THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING:  MEAT, FAT, SKIN, BONES AND INTERNAL ORGANS.

THEIR USUAL DIET IS BOILED MEAT, BUT BECAUSE OF FUEL SCARCITY THEY WERE FORCED TO EAT RAW MEAT. THIS FACT  GIVES THEM THEIR NAME WHICH COMES OUT OF TERM ESKIMAU "RAW MEAT EATER".

IN WINTER TIME, THEY ARE LIVING IN WOODEN CABINS AND IF THEY FIND SLATE PLATES THEY PUT THEM AS SNOW COVERS, WHICH ARE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST INGENIOUS ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION.  IN JUST A FEW HOURS THEY COULD PRODUCE A WIDE AND COMFORTABLE STAY JUST WITH ICE, AND INSIDE THEY WARM IT WITH SEAL GREASE WHICH HAS A HIGH INSULATION CAPACITY AND  KEEP BOTH THE ICE AND  THE HEAT.

SOMETIMES THEY BUILD IGLOOS WITH A NETWORK OF TUNNELS, SO SEVERAL FAMILIES CAN LIVE TOGETHER.

THEIR DRESSES ARE MADE OF ANIMAL SKIN  SUCH AS SEAL WITH HAIR INSIDE AND LINED LEATHER OF BEAR AND FOX THAT WOMEN CHEW WITH THEIR TEETH AND TAN WITH THEIR URINE.  THESE CLOTHES ARE SEWN WITH ANIMAL TENDONS.

THE ANORAK AND PARKA WERE INVENTED BY THEM AND WERE INTRODUCED IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF THEIR GREAT EFFICIENCY.

THEIR WAY OF LIVING IS BASED ON THE HOSPITALITY AND CAMARADERIE OR FRIENDSHIP.  THEY HARDLY DISCUSS  AND WHEN THEY DO IT, THEY RESOLVED IT BY A KIND OF PEACEFUL RITUAL.  IN THIS RITUAL THEY TRY TO MUTUALLY RIDICULE THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF THE TRIBAL ASSEMBLY.

THE BOSS OR LEADER  IS ALWAYS THE BEST HUNTER AND  HE IS LIMITED TO LEAD HUNTING EXPEDITIONS.

HIS TYPE OF TRADING IS BARTER TO EACH OTHER, SINCE BARGAINING OR STINGINESS ARE CONSIDERED BAD TASTE.

REGARDING THEIR RELIGION THEY BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF HIGHER BEINGS TO WHOM IS NOT NECESSARY TO WORSHIP OR PRAY.

SEDNA IS THE SEA GODDESS AND SILA  THE SPIRIT OF THE AIR. THE MOON, LIVING IN INCEST WITH HIS BROTHER SUN, IS THE GODDESS OF REPRODUCTION.

THEY BELIEVE THE SPIRITS ARE LIVING IN OBJECTS OF NATURE AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE ILLNESS AS A BAD STEALING OF THE SOUL.

THE WIZARDS MAKE  AMULETS AND SPELLS TO ESTABLISH A LINK WITH THE SPIRITS.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THEM?