The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-11-01

under the charge Of Col. Cbilds DIR. Kane,
whose wound were very serious, was de-
tanned here for many days, during which he
was attended and nursed with the most Ien-
der care by the family of Major Gaona, who
is now among the most ardent friends and
admirers of our noble and gifted country
man. There is one thing in this romantic
adventure which we should not omit TO men.
ton. Dr. Kane thought, and still thinks.
more of the surgical skill which he display.
ed at that skirmish than of his capturing the
prisoners, or defending them from The ireach-
cry of his escort.
The Esquimauz Indians and their Hah,ts of
LJs-Curious Hospitality Of Their Women
More Interesting Particulars.
One of our reporters has had further talk
with one of the officers of the Kane expedi-
tion, and has leaned the following facts re.
lating to the Esquimaux Indians and other
matters:-
The first time that the party came in con-
nection with the Esquimaux was in March,
1854, about the lime when The long winter
night comes TO close, and when there are
two or three hours of natural light in the
twenty-iour. The ship was visited By nine
of these Indians, each driving sledge drawn
by eight or ten Esquimaux dogs. These
sledges are of a peculiar construction. They
are between four and five feet long and iour-
teen inches wide. The body is made of
pieces of the walrus tusks and of the horn of
the naTvahl or unlcorn, cut into pieces of
about an inch long, and lashed together by
sinews. The runners are faced with the
ivory of the narvahps horn. The Esqui-
maux are very ingenious, and manage TO
bore holes by means of drill worked in a
hole in the front tooth. The sleiges are thus,
on account OF the labor bestowed on them,
very valuable, and are bequeathed from ia
ther 10 son as most precious legacy. II is
no uncommon circumstance, when the com.
munity want TO get rid of a bad and lazy
member who has good sledge and team of
Gogs, TO induce him 10 go out on hunting
expedition, and when at a great distance
from land TO take away bis sledge and spear
him.
These Indians who visited the Advance
had some walrus meat TO dispose of, which
they did for jackknives. They were, how.
ever, very shy and timid; but Dr.. Kane and
Mr.. Peterson, the interpreter, went out to
meet Them, and at length overcome their Ii
midity, and induced them 20 come on board.
The Esquimaux settlements are some for
ty miles apart, and generally consist of but
two or three hus, containing population of
eighteen or twenty. These huts are gener-
ally built of massive stones, some of them
several tons weight, and il is matter ofsur-
prise how they could have possibly go, them
up. Like the sledges, the huts are handed
down as most valuable property. Some of
them have been seen built of whalebone-
probably from fish taken by them after be-
ing killed by whalers. In summer they form.
tents OF skins, and, at a pinch, of snow. They
are hospitable. and fond of visiting, and SO
these settlements keep up an interchange of
communication and live very happily. Their
huls are heated by means of stone lamps,
cut by themselves out of sort of soapstone,
fed with blubber, and with wick of ground
moss. BY this means they manage TO keep
up temperature OF sixty degrees Fahren.
heit, while the temperature out of doors is
as many degrees below zero. They usually
eat raw meats-the flesh OF walrus and seal ;
but when they do cook any thing or make
any soup-which they make very go6d--it
is by means of these lamps.
Their sleeping places are platforms, built
of stone, raised some eighteen inches from
the foor-so as 10 keep IN the warm almos.
phsre-and covered with grass taken from
islands al distance. Their clothing con.
sisis of fox skin Jumpers or coat, with an in
ner jumper of bird skin, the feathers inwa.d;
bear skin trowsers, bear skin boots and bear
skin gloves. The dress OF the women is SIM
liar 10 that of the iheu, except that the for
mer wear boots extending half way up 10 the
thigh, while those of the women Go not ex-
tend TO the knee; and that the ladies' also
wear sack to their hoods, which they call
nessak, in which they carry their children
The men are of medium size and stou,ly
built, while the women are of smaller stat
ure and slisatsr, They do not practise the
Mormon habits of polygamy, but are, on the
contrary, extremely particular about their
matrimonial relations. This has been the
universal testimony of travellers who have
visited them. As with all savage nations The
onus of The labor devolves upon the women.
The men come in from the hunt, throw
down the prey they have secured, walrus or
seal, and the women have then 10 go TO work,
skin The animals, prepare the flesh for food,
extract the bones and prepare the sinews for
sewing purpose. One OF the ordinary acts of
hospitality or civiiiy on the part fthe ladies'
is 10 take fowl, or piece Of meat, chew ii
up very nicely, and hand il 10 the visitor, who
is expected 10 be overcome with gratitude
and finish the operation Of chewing. 1t
would give them dire offence If there should
be any failure TO do honor 10 This act of hos-