Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/218

Rh entrance was then made, and, as soon as completed, I went into the igloo. Nukertou was calm, resigned, and even thankful for the change. Of course she knew that it was to be her tomb; but she was a child of her people, and as she had now become a helpless burden to them, with only a few days more to live, it seemed to me that she took it as a matter of right and justice, and no one could object. Therefore she was thankful that her last moments were being so carefully seen to. A new igloo of stainless snow, a well-made bed of the same material, where she could breathe her last, would make her few remaining hours happy. True, she would be alone—for such was the custom of her people—but she did not fear it. She was content, and appeared cheerfully resigned. It may be asked by some, Why did I not try to prevent such an outrage upon the feelings of any Christian person? If so, I reply that I did try to get her on board the ship, but I soon found in no one thing are the native tribes more sensitive than interference with their superstitious rites and ceremonies, especially in relation to death. Hence it might have been most unwise, even if possible, to have taken Nukertou on board. Therefore I did my best for her in the igloo, where she would have been literally entombed alive, but for my inquest to attend upon her.

On the 8th of January she died; and as the incidents connected with her death were very striking, I will transcribe them from my journal as entered down at the time: "Monday, January 7.—This evening, fearing that Nukertou was wholly neglected, I went on shore about five o'clock. Of course it was then quite dark, with the thermometer 57° below the freezing point, and it was necessary for me to have a lantern in hand, besides some of the natives to guide me across the ice. On arriving at the igloo, Ebierbing and the others remained outside, while I, pushing aside the little snow door, drew myself through the low, narrow-tunnel entrance, which was just of size sufficient to admit my