Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-07-20
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TERRITORY, JULY 20, 1

women and slowed sway. oreasc.
blood and filth stood around the carcass
in pools knee deep. This rich COM
pound WIS carefully skinned by the
women with clam.shelh, to be boiled
out tor the oil. It took but little time
for that crowd to strip the carcass Of its
blubber, and soon nothing was left but
the bones and some loose pieces of use-
less Aesh which the food tide after
wards carried away. .l.,..-,.... +.
Ithen went into the lodge Of Sosc.
som, chief who had killed whale q
few days previous. That was the first
whale Of the season and was treated
with appropriate ceremonies. A por-
ton of the blubber taken off Just be-
hind the whales head, shaped like
great saddle was placed across stout
pole which had been elevated for the
purpose upon two upright posts. This
saddle is called U6utsk. It was stuck
full Of feathers, and various devices were
marked in the black skin by means of
white geese down. Underneath was
placed large wooden trough to catch
the oil which dripped from the blubber
slowly by the combined agency of the
smoke and heat of the lodge. This is
the choice oil for eating and is reserved
for the chief and head men, and their
friends. After the U6utsk has hung up
certain length OF time, till it is ripe, a
grand feast is given, and the blubber is
boiled and devoured. A canoe load Of
potatoes arriving about this time gave
the opportunity for a feast, and were I
to tell you of the inordinate quantities
that saw gorged by these Indians, like
80 many vultures, I fear should scarcely
be believed. But will tell you what
saw one of them do. This was young
Indian named Peter, who came to the
Island that day from Kid-de-cubbut, the
summer camp of the Neeah Bay Indi-
ans, and who was to take me with him
on his return that afternoon. I saw
Peter eat three meals during the fore.
noon. How many more he ate l do
not know, but as it is the custom with
the Mackahs never to refuse an invita-
ton to eat, and as it is the rule of hos
pitality always to invite visitor, it is
probable he ate several more-at all
events Isaw him eat three times. Then
he came to the light house to tell me
he was ready to 60, and it being just
past orr dinner hour, Capt. Winsor
asked Peter to eat, and he did cat a
large dish full of stewed beans, quite
as much rs any two Of US had eaten for
our dinners. He then said he was
ready to go, andI went with him to
the canoe, but he was called back by
some. of his friends, and actually did
not leave the islxnd till he had eaten
another mess of blubbar with old Cow
betsi, the chief and took . parting
lunch with another tyee. Then we left
and padded to his house, half way be-
tween the lighthouse and Neeah Bay,
probably about three miles distant. /
stopped at Peters house that night, and
we had scarcely landed when the big
pot was put on the FIRE and some blub-
Der boiled, some frcsh FISH roasted, and
half 4 busbel Of potatoes baked in tho
ashes. Peters squaw also made and
baked SONG bread, and when all was
cooked, each one was farnished with
little pan Of whale oil, and all went TO
eating. Al this meal We my supper,
I did justice to Il, bat did not 30 to bed
tin another nisss of blubbsrwss cooked
and eaten, Of which, however, I did not
partake. Theme morning Peter CON-
planned that be felt faint in his stomach,
| but he soon recovered himself after eat-
| ing several strips Of boiled blubhee,
when he and myself walked around the
beach TO Webstefs point Neeah Bay,
where ws visiting. r eJT E
Nov Peter had lived with white uasn,
hsd bssa % Calilbeuia, end had w6slksd
| in Tibbal's Hotel in Port Townssnd,
bat hs had his savass apPstits thst
= Il.