A Description of Greenland/Chapter 11

by Hans Egede

CHAP. XI.

Of their Habits, and Way of Dressing.

Men's Habits described.Their Clothes are, for the most part, made of Rain-Deer and Seal Skin, as also of Birds Skin nicely dressed and prepared. The Men's Habits are a Coat or Jacket, with a Cap or Hood sewed to it, to cover the Head and Shoulders, in the Fashion of a Domino, or Monk's Hood. This Coat reaches down to the Knees. Their Breeches are very small, not coming above their Loins, that they may not hinder them in getting into their small Boats. And as they wear no Linen, the Hairs of the Skins the Coat is made of, is turned inward, to keep them warm. Over this Coat they put on a large Frock, made of Seal Skin dressed and tanned, without Hair, in order to keep the Water out; and thus they are dressed when they go to Sea.

Between the Leathern Frock and the under Coat, they wear a Linen Shirt, or for want of Linen, made of Seal Guts; which also helps to keep out the Water from the under Coat. Of late they appear sometimes in more gaudy Dresses, as Shirts made of striped Linen, and Coats and Breeches of red and blue Stuffs, or Cloth, (which they buy of ours, or the Dutch Merchants) but fashioned after their own Way; in these they make Parade and Feast, when they keep Holidays on Shore. The Stockings they wore formerly were made of Rain-Deer, or Seal Skin, but now they like better our sort of worsted Stockings, of different Colours, White, Blue and Red, which they buy of us. Their Shoes and Boots are made of Seal Skins, Red or Yellow, well dressed and tanned; they are nicely wrought, with Folds behind and before, without Heels, and fit well upon the Foot^[1].

Women's Habits.The only Difference between the Dress of the Men and the Women is, that the Women's Coats are higher on the Shoulders, and wider than the Men's, with higher and larger Hoods. The married Women, that have got Children, wear much larger Coats than the rest, most like Gowns, because they must carry their Children in them upon their Backs, having got no other Cradle or Swadling-Clothes for them. They wear Drawers, which reach to the middle of the Thigh, and over them Breeches. The Drawers they always keep on, and sleep in them. Their Breeches come down to the Knee. These they do not wear in the Summer, nor in the Winter, but when they go abroad; and as soon as they come home they pull them off again. Next to their Body they wear a Waistcoat made of young Fawns Skins, with the hairy Side inward. The Coat, or upper Garment, is also made of fine coloured Swans Skins (or in Defect of that, of Seal Skins) trimmed and edged with White, and nicely wrought in the Seams, and about the Brim, which looks very well. Their Shoes and Boots, with little Difference, are like those of the Men. Their Hair, which is very long and thick, is braided and tied up in a Knot, which becomes them well. They commonly go bare-headed, as well without as within Doors; nor are they covered with Hoods, but in case it rains or snows. Their chief Ornaments and Finery is to wear Glass Beads of diverse Colours, or Corals about the Neck and Arms, and Pendants in their Ears. They also wear Bracelets, made of black Skin, set with Pearls, with which they also trim their Clothes and Shoes.

The Greenland Sex have, besides this, another sort of Embellishment, viz. they make long black Strokes between the Eyes on the Forehead, upon the Chin, Arms, and Hands, and even upon the Thighs and Legs; these they make with a Needle and Thread made black. And though this to others seems a wrong way of embellishing, yet they think it very handsome and ornamental. And they say, that those who do not thus deform their Faces, their Heads shall be turned into Train Tubs, which are placed under the Lamps in Heaven, or the Land of Souls.

They keep themselves clean in Clothing, but very nasty in Eating.They keep their Clothes pretty clean, though in other Things, especially in their Victuals, they are not so nice, chiefly the Women, who have got Children, are very dirty and slovenly, well knowing, that they cannot be repudiated, or sent a packing. But those Wretches that are barren, or whose Children are dead, and do not know the Moment they may be sent away, are obliged to take more Care of their Cleanness and Property, that they may please their Husbands.

 

1. In the Summer they wear short Frocks, as also in Winter, when they work on the Ice in the Bays; but then they put a white Covering over it, that they may not frighten the Seals.

 

 

Illustration of Greenlandic Inuit seal hunters, 1745.