River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-16
ALASKAN FESrITIrLES

Next day about noon was invited to
participate in canoe excursion in pur.
suit Of some beluga, or white grampus, a
member Of the whale family, but OF an
average length of only sixteen or twenty
feet. The blubber of this animal is con.
sidered great de.icacy by the Indians in
this neis ,horhood, and the Laida Chief
wished to get supply Of that greasy
staff Of life before returning home. Ac.
cordingly we started off in ten bidarhas,
all the Indians being provided with va
rious sizes OF spears, while took nothing
but my rifle. In half an hour after leav.
ing the mouth of the river the proposed
hunting ground was reached and the
canoes separated in search OF the game.
For some time we crulsed about without
seeing elbow" but finally the long.ex.
pected signal shout was heard from one
Of the canoes, and all assembled imme-
diately around their intended victim,
which was ferIale beluga, nth a calf
following in its wake. First the old one
would cone no and blow, and in few
seconds af,cr the young one would follow
suit, thioning up diminutive spout.
The calf was attacked first, and as soon
as its blood dyed the water the dam turn.
ed around as if in pursuit Of the murder.
CIR, describing circles around the float
ing body Of its offspring and laShing the
water into foam with its tail and hukes.
While racing around the animal received
well-aimed spears from the bidarkas,
\ which had formed a circle, and as these
weapons were provided with inflated
bladdcrs near the head, the beluga was
soon buoyed up on the surface of the
water, being too exhausted to draw under
the 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. aimed my rifle
at beluga which was showing its
| huge white back above the water a short
| distance from me. The shet went offand
its effect was instaneous. though not ex.
actly as expected. The shot was well
/
intiicting a mortal wound but while the
oeluga was floundering about in its death.
struggles, lashing the water into foam
| dyed with its own red blood, one 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
crswled into it, very wet to be sure, but
not at all in bad humor. The accident
was the subject Of Jokes nnumerable on
the way home. When the last beluga
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 we glided along
swiftly, in spite Of the mighty carcasses
we had in tow, and, as 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
as soon as we were near enough to be
head. On our arrival at the beech the
whole village had a 'sembled to view and
admire the spois of our DAVIS sport. As
soon as the belugas had been dragged
ashore knives were drawn on every side
ard slices of the blubber cut off and eaten
raw apparently with great gusto. by old
J and young. |, tasted a 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 a day old, the rancid fshy taste is
there and grows stronger every day. II
was dark before all the bIubber had been
cut off and safely stored ont of reach Of
the village dogs, but late as it was the
Chiefs house was prepared for contin.
uation Of yesterdays feats and games.
| was not prepared for q second siege Of
that kind and managed to sip away I'M
observed, glad to escape an ordeal which
would have been more trying on Cau-
caslan 5 Ollactory nerves than the day
before on account Of the fresh supply Of
blubher and oil. Before arose next day
the visiting party from Laida had taken
their departure TO set SEINE other village
in connection while the good people Of
Chketuk were yet rcyeling 10 remem-
brance of the joys just past.