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Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1924, Page 2

In Sydney lately, Dr. Stefansson, the well-known Antic lecturer lias been giving a series of addresses connected with his travels on the top of the glohe. They have drawn large attendances, including fit is interesting to note) great, numbers of children who have found the lecturers very informative. In a recent address speaking mainly of the Eskimo people. Dr. Stofansson said that lii.s explorations had proved to him that many of the things lie had been taught at school concerning these people were not facts. Instead of being people of very small stature, as he had been taught, the Eskimoes. except those who lived in Greenland, were almost as big ns Australians. The story that Eskimoes lived in snow houses was also quite incorrect, as probably hall of them had never seen a snow house. Tn certain isolated places a few Eskimoes do live in snow houses. Neither did they drink oil, as was generally supposed. Having neither starch nor sugar, they atc> a little more fat- than Europeans. Tens of thousands of Eskinines lived on meat and water alone. The lecturer said that lie laid lived nil meat and water himself for nine years, and had not suffered from blood pressure, rheumatism, or hardening of the arteries, which were supposed to follow such a diet. Tn their language the Eskimoes had 1-1,000 words, and the language was much harder to learn that Greek or Latin. Instead of being cold all the year round, there was a summer season in the Eskimo country, when the tem- ) cent lire was 100 deg. in the shade. The Eskimoes siifTcieil severely during this period owing to having to wear heavy clothing. I.ecanse the mosquitoes were so had. According to Captain Wilkins, who had boon in the Arctic regions with the lecturer, the mosquitoes were ten times worse in the far north than they were in Queensland. Most of the Eskimoes, however, escaped the intense heat hv living on the coast, where it was never hot. though thousands who lived in the interior had never seen the mean. Though for the most part tbe Eskitnoes were just like the Chinese or the Japane.se. there were many who wore line Europeans. l)r. Stefansson eoneluded his lecture by showing a number of lantern slides, illustrating life in the Arctic regions, and those were followed with the keenest interest by the children.