Among Unknown Eskimo.

Bilby (Julian W.)

Among Unknown Eskimo.

An Account of Twelve Years intimate relations with the Primitive Eskimo of Ice-bound Baffin Land, with a Description of their Ways of Living, Hunting, Customs & Beliefs.

Description: FIRST EDITION, 16 photographic plates (including frontispiece), 10 illustrations, 1 folding map, pp. 280, [8, ads], folding map, 8vo, original black boards with pale blue eskimo conjuror motif on upper board, boards with a couple of faint spots, upper board lower edge a little rubbed, backstrip ends slightly pushed, dustjacket with repeated motif on cover and backstrip, imperceptible repaired tear at top of backstrip, very good

Publication Details: Seeley Service & Co., 1923

Notes: A detailed description of Baffin Island and the Inuit way of life, with an appendix of eskimo deities, including the vampiric Aipalookvik who 'Has a large head and face, huuman in appearance but ugly like a cod's. Is a destroyer by desire and tries to bite and eat the kyakers.' (p.266). His account is also notable for descriptions of euthanasia: a blind man is willingly led to an ice hole where 'He went right under, then and there—under the ice—and was immediately drowned and frozen. A handy piece of ice served to seal the death trap, and all was over. Nandla had died on the hunt, and had ...moreA detailed description of Baffin Island and the Inuit way of life, with an appendix of eskimo deities, including the vampiric Aipalookvik who 'Has a large head and face, huuman in appearance but ugly like a cod's. Is a destroyer by desire and tries to bite and eat the kyakers.' (p.266). His account is also notable for descriptions of euthanasia: a blind man is willingly led to an ice hole where 'He went right under, then and there—under the ice—and was immediately drowned and frozen. A handy piece of ice served to seal the death trap, and all was over. Nandla had died on the hunt, and had entered the Eskimo heaven like the other valiant men of his tribe, and taken his place with the doughtiest of them, where there would be joy and plenty for evermore.' (p. 153).From the library of Franklin Brooke-Hitching with his mark in pencil on flyleaf. HIDE

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Price: £750

Subject: Travel & Topography

Published Date: 1923

Stock Number: 60470

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