The Diary of Abraham Ulrikab: Text and Context

Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung

Borddeutsclie ailgtmtine •Zoning—Berlin Abraham, t^obias andtManiak Bemonstrate aSeal tumt Che Cskimos started their show on Sunday in the Zoologischer Garten to massive applause from an audience of almost 7000. Che most interesting part of the show is probably the seal hunt. In it, Cobias plays the seal to be hunted, wrapped in furs. As soon as Careganiak spots him,he drops to the ground, imitating the sound of a seal, crawling towards him. Finally the animal is in firing range, the rifle thunders, the seal is hit and the hunter jumps up cheering, ties a leash he has brought with him around the body of the shot animal, and trails it to the hut where wife, kids, and friends await him. Cobias and Careganiak play their roles with great enthusiasm , and Cobias patiently lets himself be trailed along the ground as the shot seal. Che hunt on water is just as interesting . Che kayaks of the Labrador Cskimos differ enormously in construction and handling from the Greenlandic boats. All Cskimos present here, especially Cobias and Careganiak again, play in these harpoon hunts of seals, salmon, and seabirds ; further they go on sledges pulled by dogs and show their talents at snowshoeing - all of which highly amuse the audience. No. 487, Oct. 18th, 1880 [14] THE DIARY OF ABRAHAMULRIKAB Tobias' Jpondness for Children* A visitor of the Zoologischer Garten tells the 'X. J.' how fond of children the Cskimos already are after having been here for only two days: Among the curious people coming to the Cskimos on Monday were also very many children, who tried to communicate with the Cskimos by language and gestures. It was already getting dark and the spectators had left, and also the Greenlanders had gone into their huts. Only Cobias, the 21-year-old, not absolutely unhandsome boy, sat outside leaning against a tree, and he was surrounded by a group of boys and girls, who joked with him and asked many things. A little, maybe 10-year-old boy with a pretty, always smiling face found the special favour of the northern son, who petted and caressed the clever boy for every comment. He might have touched the boy a little rough; the boy pretended crying and Cobias jumped up at once, put the boy's head on his chest and covered him with kisses. When the boy looked up again, laughing heartily, Cobias joined him laughing after a while and caressed and kissed the boy again. Almost by force the Cskimo had to be separated from the cheerful children, and only after the leader of the group indicated that he will see the children tomorrow again, he said goodbye to his Berlin friends for the day and retreated into the hut. INr. 492, Oct. 21 si, 1880 (Morgenausgabe / morning edition) THE DIARY OF ABRAHAM ULRIKAB [15] Hornthe£oo'8plarJBrsJpearheInit0ests, fDhcreasthenuitjeartheCionsandtigers* Che Cskimos put the polar bears of the Zoohgischer Garten - which has always been a place of tranquillity - in truly hot excitement. Assoon as an Cskimo comes close to its cage, it bursts to the bars in loud grunts and tries to break through them to attack his natural enemy, who he recognizes despite the long captivity. Che Cskimos also cause uproar among other animals in the house for beasts of prey, but it is hard to convince them to enter it anyway, because they cannot overcome their natural fear of lions and tigers. Samples of Inuklifrut Language* In general, the Cskimos have already settled here and especially the young Cobias made many new friends, welcoming them with a friendly iltarnemek (hello). Kamutik suicksak (sledge ride) gives him the biggest pleasure. Very fast he follows the Kingmiks (dogs) with his 20 foot long Herautak (whip), of which you can hear the Schiknbuk (cracks) very far. Abraham prefers Nankalorii (boating) to the sledge rides. Cereganiak is not fond of work at all; he prefers devoting himself to philosophical contemplation : "schilalok obleme, kaugbot schiloke, kangsabot Sonntag, innuit onuktvt!" (Bad weather today, good weather tomorrow, the day after tomorrow Sunday, many people then!), he told his fellow yesterday; and even one not knowing the language could hear how the thought of the excitement caused by each Sunday terrified him. Che language of the Cskimos from Labrador differs substantially from that of the Greenlanders. Che Labrador Gskimos dfo not seem to have any songs [16] THE DIARY OF ABRAHAM ULRIKAB from their native...