Schwatka's Search: Sledging in the Arctic in Quest of the Franklin Records Part 13

Though living so near together there had been no communication between the nations; and only once before, about three years previous to my visit to Hudson Bay, when a whale had gone ash.o.r.e on Sedluk, an Iwillik native on board the vessel that killed the whale went with the crew to claim the carcases and brought news of the foreign country and its people. I was told that the language of these people of Sedluk was similar to that spoken by the fathers and grandfathers of the Iwillik tribe. They had evidently the same origin, and while one became improved by intercourse with foreign nations and adopted words from foreign tongues, the other remained as it was in the past, unimproved by interchange of ideas. I have never seen anything like a full glossary of the Esquimaux language, and believe that at this time, when Arctic affairs are attracting so much attention everywhere, a list of the most important words used in communicating with the natives, and the method of uniting them, would prove quite interesting. My experience was that though we at first found it difficult to talk with the interior tribes they soon caught the idea and conversation became easy. Innukpizookzook, an Ooqueesiksillik woman who with her husband joined our party on Hayes River, learned the method of communication in two weeks, so that it was as easy to hold conversation with her as with any of those who came with us from Hudson Bay and had been accustomed to the peculiar language since their birth. In fact, as a general thing, we found the women much brighter than the men, not only in acquiring language but in understanding the descriptions of wonderful things in the white men's country.

It used to be an endless source of amus.e.m.e.nt to the men, women, and children in the Arctic regions to look at the pictures in the ill.u.s.trated books and journals. Colored maps were also very attractive to them, and the large type in advertis.e.m.e.nts apparently afforded them great pleasure. They were not at particular to hold the pictures right side up; side-wise or upside down seemed quite as satisfactory. Though admiring pictures exceedingly, I did not find them very proficient draughtsmen, and yet nothing seemed to give them more pleasure than to draw with a lead pencil on the margin of every book they could get hold of, and my Nautical Almanac and "Bowditch's Epitome" are profusely ill.u.s.trated by them. Their favorite subjects were men and women and other animals, always drawn in profile and with half the usual number of feet and legs visible.

GLOSSARY.

The following glossary comprises all the words in general use in conversation between the natives and traders in Hudson Bay and c.u.mberland Sound, and a thorough knowledge of it would enable the student to make himself understood throughout the entire Arctic, with the a.s.sistance of a few signs which would naturally suggest themselves at the proper time:

A.

Arrow--Kok'-yoke.

Arm--Tel'-oo.

Another--I-pung'-er.

All night--Kuee-en'-nah.

Angry--Mar-me-an'-nah.

All--Ter-mok-er-mingk.

Autumn--Oo-ke-uk'-shark.

Afraid--Kay-pe-en'-nah.

A little while ago, to-day--Wateh-eur'.

Ask--O-kow-te-vah'-vor.

Antlers--Nug'-le-you.

Axe--Oo'-lee-mar.

Aurora Borealis--Ok-sel-e-ak-took, ok-shan'-ak-took.

Air--Ar-ne-yung'-ne-uk.

After, or last--O-puk'-too.

After (to carry)--Ok-la-loo'-goo.

After (to bring)--I'-vah.

Always--E-luk-o-she'-ar.

Alone--In-nu-tu-a-rk'.

A game (like gambling)--Nu-glu-tar.

A herd--Ah-mik-kok'-too.

Act of medicine men--Suk-ki'-u.

Apples (dried)--Poo-wow'-yak.

Ankle--Sing-yeung'-mik.

Arm--Ok-sek'-too.

B.

Bear--Nan'-nook.

Bear (cub)--Ar-took'-tar.

Bullet--Kok'-yoke.

Bow--Pet-e'-chee.

Bird--Tig'-me-ak.

Boots--k.u.m'-ming.

Blood--Owg.

Black--Muk'-tuk.

Belch--Neep'-shark.

Brother--An'-ing-er.

Bones--Sow'-ner.

Bag--Ik-pe-air'-re-oo.

Book--Muk-pet-toe'-up.

Belt--Tep'-shee.

Blubber--E-din-yer'.

Bashful--Kung-we-shook'-pook.

Blue--Too-mook'-took.

Breastbone--Sok'-e-djuck.

Backbone--Kee-mik'-look.

Belly--Nong'-ik.

Brain--Kok'-i-tuk.

Beard--Oo'-mik.

Beads--Shoong-ow'-yah.

Blanket--Kep'-ig.

Break--Sel'-li-ko.

Bark--Oo-we-uk'-too.

Boil--Kul-ak'-pook.

Bite--Kee'-wah, O-k.u.m-wik'-poo.

Breathe--Ar-nuk-ter-re'-uk.

Build snow house--Ig-loo-le'-yook.

Burn--Oon-ok'-took.

Big river--Koog-ooark'.

Bra.s.s headband--Kar'-roong.

Butcher knife--Pee'-low.

Before (or first)--Kee'-sah-met, Oo-tung-ne-ak'-pung-ar.

Bring (verb)--Tik-e-u-dje'-yoo.

Body--Kot'-e-jeuk.

Black moss--Kee-now'-yak.

Big lake--Tussig-see'-ark.

Berries (like red raspberries)--Ok'-pict.

Berries (small black)--Par-wong.

Berries (large yellow)--Kob'-luk.

Bill (of bird)--See'-goo.

b.u.t.ton--See'-ah-cote.

b.u.t.tonhole--See-ok-wahk'-pe-ok.

Blubber--Oke-zook.

Blubber (oil tried out)--Tung'-yah.

b.i.t.c.h--Ahg'-neuck.

Ball of foot--Man-nook'-kok.

Bend (verb)--Ne-yook'-te-pook.

Break (verb)--E-ling-nuk'-poo, Nok'-ok-poe, Noo-week'-pook, Kow'-poo.

Beat (as a drum, verb)--Moo'-mik-took.

Beat (snow off of clothing, verb)--Tee-look'-took-took.

Beat (with club, verb)--Ah-now-look-took.

Boots (deerskin)--Ne'-u, Mit-ko'-lee-lee.

C.