Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-16
ALASKAN FESTIVITIES.

participate IN canoe excursion IN pur-
suit Of some beluga, or white grampus, =
member of the whale family, but Of an
average length Of only sixteen or twenty
feet. Tho blubber Of this animal is con-
sidered great de:icacy BY tho Indians in
this neighborhood, and the Laida Chief
wished to get supply Of that greasy
staff Of life before returning home. Ac-
cordingly VIC started of in ten bidarhss,
all the Indians being provided; with VI.
rious sizes ofspears, while took nothing
but my rifle. In half an hour after leay.
ing the mouth Of the river the proposed
hunting ground was reached and tho
canoes separated in search of the game.
For some time wc cruised about without
seeing 'blow," but finally tho long-ex.
pected signal shout was heard from one
Of the canoes, and all assembled immc-
diately around their intended victim.
which was female beluga, nth a calf
following in its wake. First the old one
would come up and blew, and in = few
seconds after the young one would follow
suit, throwing up = diminutive spout.
The calf was attacked first, and IS soon
as its blood dyed the water the dam turn.
ed around rs if in pursuit of the murder.
or, describing circles around the float.
ing body of its offspring and lashing tho
water into foam with its tail and flukes.
While rscing around the animal received
wcll.aimcd spears from the bidarkas,
which had formed circle, and as these
weapons were provided with inflated
bladders near the head, the beluga was
soon buoyed up on the surface of the
water, being too exhausted to draw under
tho large number of bladders fastened to
its back and sides, and in that position
was easily killed. Three more were
killed in the same manner, and the party
was preparing to return to the village
when thought would try another way
of securing the game, and without giving
any notice to the men in the other canoes,
as ought to have done, I aimed my rife
at 4 beluga which was showing it's
huge white back above the water short
distance from me. Tho shet went off and
its effect was instancous, though not ex.
actly as expected. Tho shot was we'll
aimed and hit the spine of tho animal,
inflicting mortal wound but while the
Deluga was foundering about in its death.
struggles, lashing the water into foam
dyed with its own red blood, ono stroke
of the tail upset one of the canoes, throw.
ing the inmates into the water. There
Was plenty Of assistance on hand, how
ever the canoe was righted and the men
crawled into it, very vet to be sure, but
not at all in bad humor. The accident
was the subject of jokes innumerable on
the way home. When tho last belue.
had been secured and its body fastened
to the stern of our canoe, the whole
squadron was set in molten. With
the tide in our favor 10 glided along
swiftly, in spite Of the mighty carcasses
We had in tow, and, IS We drew near the
village, the monotonous boat song was
chanted by the men as they piled their
paddles. On the high banks Of the river
the old Chief Was standing ready to re.
ceive us, while the squaws were sitting in
the grass and watching our approach,
joining with their shrill voices in the song
IS soon as We were near enough to be
head. On our arrival at the beech the
whole village had assembled to view and
admire the spoils Of our davis sport. As
soon as tho belugss had been dragged
ashore knives were drawn on every side
and slices of the blubbcr cut off and eaten
raw apparently with great gusto, by old
and young. l, tasted small morsel, and
must confess it resembles raw bacon fat
more than anything ever swallowed !;
but that is only the case Immediately
after the killing as soon as the blubber
is half day old, the rancid fishy taste is
there and grows stronger every day. It
was dark before all the blubbcr had been
cut off and safely stored out of reach of
the village dogs, but late As it was the
Chiefs house was prepared for q contin.
uation Of yesterdays feats and games.
was not prepared for second siege Of
that kind and managed to slip away un.
observed, glad to escape an ordeal which
would have been moro trying on . eau.
cssian's olfactory nerves than the day
before on account of the fresh supply Of
blubbcr and oil. Before I arose next day
the visiting party from Laida had taken
their departure to set some other village
in commotion while the good people Of
Chketuk were yet reveling in remcm.
brancc Of the joys just past.
QCAY vH>YAyc