Have you heard of Blond Eskimos?
Of the natives seen by Sir Edward Parry on the shores of Lyon Inlet in 1821 he writes: "We could scarcely believe them to be Eskimo.
There was a degree of lankness in their faces. Their countenances impressed me with the idea of Indian rather than of Eskimo features; but this variety of physiognomy we afterward found to be not uncommon with these people.
Two men and three women (of one group) had good Roman noses. Several children had complexions nearly as fair as Europeans. It may be added that the portraits of a few of these people in no way resemble Eskimo. The people had never even seen Indians."
Of the same tribes Dr. Alexander Fisher, surgeon of Parry's expedition and a keen observer, records in an unpublished journal as follows: "In making a few remarks on the people themselves, I must observe that although the major part of them displayed in great perfection the genuine Eskimo features, form, and other characteristics of these people.
Yet there were some who differ so materially in this respect that the most superficial observer could not help noticing it."
Speaking of the tallest Eskimo, 5 feet 9 1/2 inches, he continues : "I think that the tallest men and women are of an Indian or mixed extraction."
In describing the hybrids he adds: In the first place, the most striking difference is that of the countenance, which is long and narrow. The nose is large and of that shape which is called Roman.
In their persons, also, the mixed race is somewhat taller, better made, and less inclined to corpulence. Several other distinctions might be pointed out.
But I think those already mentioned sufficiently show that those in question are not of the genuine Eskimo stock. It may be added that these people had never seen either Indians or Europeans."
Capt. G. F. Lyon, Royal Navy, in his attempt to reach Repulse Bay in 1824. fell in with a group of Eskimo near Cape Pembroke, Southampton Island.
These natives had never seen Europeans, and of them he records: "The face of the woman was as perfect an oval as that of an European girl, with regular and even pretty features. Her mother was with her and had the same cast of countenance.
The other women had the usual broad, flat faces and high cheek bones."
Capt. John Ross, Royal Navy, in his voyage to Boothia Isthmus, 1829-1833, saw many natives. He states that "the features of an elderly man, which were preserved by a portrait, differ considerably from the general character as if he had belonged to a different tribe.
Another native from west Boothia had Ind ian rather than Eskimo features, though the tribe had never seen Indians."
Capt. G. Back. Royal Navy, in his journey to Back River in 1833 mentions an Eskimo who "could not have matured a more luxuriant beard, which, he adds, "yielded the palm only to that of Master George Killingworth, which was not only thick, broad, and yellow colored, but in length 5 feet 2 inches in size."
There was a degree of lankness in their faces. Their countenances impressed me with the idea of Indian rather than of Eskimo features; but this variety of physiognomy we afterward found to be not uncommon with these people.
Two men and three women (of one group) had good Roman noses. Several children had complexions nearly as fair as Europeans. It may be added that the portraits of a few of these people in no way resemble Eskimo. The people had never even seen Indians."
Of the same tribes Dr. Alexander Fisher, surgeon of Parry's expedition and a keen observer, records in an unpublished journal as follows: "In making a few remarks on the people themselves, I must observe that although the major part of them displayed in great perfection the genuine Eskimo features, form, and other characteristics of these people.
Yet there were some who differ so materially in this respect that the most superficial observer could not help noticing it."
Speaking of the tallest Eskimo, 5 feet 9 1/2 inches, he continues : "I think that the tallest men and women are of an Indian or mixed extraction."
In describing the hybrids he adds: In the first place, the most striking difference is that of the countenance, which is long and narrow. The nose is large and of that shape which is called Roman.
In their persons, also, the mixed race is somewhat taller, better made, and less inclined to corpulence. Several other distinctions might be pointed out.
But I think those already mentioned sufficiently show that those in question are not of the genuine Eskimo stock. It may be added that these people had never seen either Indians or Europeans."
Capt. G. F. Lyon, Royal Navy, in his attempt to reach Repulse Bay in 1824. fell in with a group of Eskimo near Cape Pembroke, Southampton Island.
These natives had never seen Europeans, and of them he records: "The face of the woman was as perfect an oval as that of an European girl, with regular and even pretty features. Her mother was with her and had the same cast of countenance.
The other women had the usual broad, flat faces and high cheek bones."
Capt. John Ross, Royal Navy, in his voyage to Boothia Isthmus, 1829-1833, saw many natives. He states that "the features of an elderly man, which were preserved by a portrait, differ considerably from the general character as if he had belonged to a different tribe.
Another native from west Boothia had Ind ian rather than Eskimo features, though the tribe had never seen Indians."
Capt. G. Back. Royal Navy, in his journey to Back River in 1833 mentions an Eskimo who "could not have matured a more luxuriant beard, which, he adds, "yielded the palm only to that of Master George Killingworth, which was not only thick, broad, and yellow colored, but in length 5 feet 2 inches in size."
Source...