Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-12-21
The North Polar IndianS--Their First
Interview with a White Man. I'll

+ vsa interview with a White Man. -.
/ In one of Commander McClure's dispatches
from the Investigator, off Cape Bathurst, latitude
10 deg. 2am. longitude 1877 deg. 57m., Aug. 80,
1850: he describes his meeting some of the Indi-
an tribes which inhabit that region. OF one
tribe. he says: ,a--af3 -. .-.s. ss-s ..,.:.
sTheir surprise of course was very great, partic-
ularly at the size of their handkerchefs (he sails);
the whaleboats attracted their attention. and they
asked if trees grew in our country sufficiently
large to make them. The head man had gun
with Barnett, $780, on the lock. This he OBJ
tained from the Russians. AS fair specimen of
the observation of these people and their aptitude
for trade, the following may be taken: Seeing
that we cut the tobacco in pieces to give in ex-
change for their fish (salmon trouO they began to
do the same with the fish. This, however, we
would not admit, SO that they were obliged to
come to our terms. During the afternoon, while
standing along a low flat Island, we observed
fag-a pair of seal skin inexpre essibles-upon
lofty pole, and number of natives around it; we
stood for them, but when the boats were pulling
in, they appeared to regret their temerty, for
down came the seal skin, and away they ran
shortly gaining courage, they returned, and as we
approached, they arranged themselves in lines up
on the beach, and commenced extending their
sands above their heads, typical of friendship,)
which being answered from the boats, perfectly
assured them of amicable intentions. Upon
our landing, they evinced most manly conf
dence, rubbing noses, and embracing most vigo-
rously; these were very cleanly, so that the ope-
ration not SO unpleasant as it otherwise
might have been. Through the interpreter, Mr..
Miertsching, we learned that these people had
never before seen European, nor had they the
smallest article of European manufacture about
them. (Lieut. Pulens boots they observed last
year, but they were some distance off, and conse-
quently had no communieation.) They live du-
ring the summer months upon these desolate is
lands, and in the winter they retire to a short dis
tance on the mainland, to their winter residences.
Their women and tents were upon another Is
land. They were fine active set of young men;
average height five feet six inches. These Indi-
ans barter their skins, &C., with tribe further
west, who, in their turn, the same with others,
until they reach the Russian post on the Colville
river. 4: IL asta><.-fs9 r. sGss-.tt EEaIE
made them few presents, also a boats en-
sign in commemoration of the frst-man-of war
whose flag has ever foated ever those sterile re-
gions. The magnifcence of the gift they could
not for some time comprehend, and were loathe
to touch it; but at length the interpreter made
them understand that it seat to them by
great chief, and in return they were to be very
kind to all white men they met, and show it to
them; all this they promised; the chief then sez-
ed it in his arms, and ran across the island to his
canoe, followed by the rest of his tribe, and no
doubt hurried with the joyful tidngs to the wo-
men.
On the morning of the 18th four badars came
alongside, containing the whole encampment of
the tribe we met last night, and also some that
we had seen two days previously, from which it
appeared that they were migratory; they brought
off Quantity of fish and supply of venison, but
the latter was in such high state of putrefac-
tion that could not touch it; we allowed most
of the men to come on board, and although we'll
aware of their knavsh propensities, and conse-
Iuently, sharp look out was kept upon them,
they must have adroitly managed to slip both
handles of our winch and small ice anchor into
their baidar, where the fair sex became the re-
cipients. 1t was by the greatest accident that
the theft was discovered, by the end of one han
ule ITOul PIOPOl VI ulO
lady-who, when taxed, Immediately returned the
articles, and informed upon her husband. For
this immortality the whole boat was exempted
from receiving any presents."5' HH 5t.zs .@"n5:
Of tribe near the Mackenzie, he says that
they made hostile demonstrations on the approach
of the ships boats. When the crew landed,
they found that the whole tribe had Immediately
| taken to their baidars, with their most valuable
skins, and left the settlement with the exception
of the chief and his son, who remained to defend
tile property as it would have been undgnifed to
retire when danger was apprehended. The chief
stated that they were at war with the neighboring
tribes, and had occasional skrmishes with the In
dians; that they had no communication with any
person belonging to the Great River (Mackenzie)
nor had they seen any white people before; but
when the sea freezes, Cthe latter end of Septem-
ber,) the whole tribe proceedwest and trade with
/ the Esquimaux near jones Island. "s&-a
/ DEATH BY OPIUM.-Shocktng- Ap-
| peorance-In the American Japan Expedition, a
i Chinese who was taken on board for an interpre-
ter, fell victim to opium smoking. The report
of Bayard Taylor states:
sHe attempted to give it mp, and this, with a
spell of sea-sickness on board the Saratoga,
feebled him that no medicine produced any effect,
/ and he sank into state of nervelessness and ema-
- TT:~ l..