LIFE AMONG ESKIMOS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 59, 20 July 1938, Page 1

LIFE AMONG ESKIMOS

NURSE FROM ARCTIC NICEST PEOPLE IN WOULD Living as a member <>i' a community; comprising -only ■> six white people, making journeys by clog sled with an Eskimo driver as kef only companion, and looking after the health ci the dwellers on j>t. Lawrence Island, m the , Bering ..'Sea.,, with only occasional aid thorn ~a ' doctor, constitutes the life ol -Mrs N. Gallagher, who .arrived: • • *=> • SB '"* : S ' in Sydney’ recently. s

“Eskimo's are the nicest people. Ju. the world. They do not iie, steal or drink, and I find it quite safe to- go away for months and leave my house unlocked,” said -M;rs Gallagher, who has spent- six years among Eskimos as pnniic health, nurse for the Inited States Government.

if. takes JVi'rs Galla glier about a .fortnight to make the round of her patients, hike always lias an Eskimo driver. If caught in sudden snowstorm she has no fear of ;iot finding shelter for the night, for she declares •ytlie Eskimos are most hospitable..- ami' will do all they can to make a chance guest comfortable. “Although we have the long An tw night on the island, there is ( no difficulty in travelling, lor the moonlight on the snow makes plenty of light, as well as being picturesque.” To Combat Tuberculosis. The chief illness which Mrs Gallagher has to combat among the Efikinuj's is tuberculosis. She teaches hygience to the Eskimos and describes them as a naturally clean race: nut they art' forced to live in such small, low houses, and: the cold i s so intense, .that it is difficult to get enough fresh air and sunshine to combat the disease. As there are no. doctors resident on the island, there are long periods in the year when Mrs Gallagher carries on alone. There are three or four visits-from the doctor during the year. “There are,-only two Kskimo houses of tiie old type left on the island,” continued Mrs Gallagher. “Headymade modern homtfc are sent from the United States, hut the lighting is still from seal oil.” Overalls made of reindeer skin, and having a hood to cover the head, are worn by Mrs Gallagher when she is on the island, and she does not find the climate unbearably cold.