The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-09-23
Use Of the Walrus.

In looking at this uncouth animal, the
most natural question at once arises
w hat earthly service can such an un-
gainly, stupid beast render? What, in
deed, is the use of its existence! But
the answer is swift and satisfactory:
were it not for the subsistence furnished
so largely by the flesh and oil OF the
morse,it is exceedingly doubtful whether
the Esquimaux of North America, from
Behring Straits clear around to Labra
dor could manage to live. 1t is not to
be inferred that walrus-meat is the sole
diet of these simple people, for that is
very wide of the truth; but there are sew
eral months of every year when the eXi-
gencies of the climate render it absolute
ly impossible for the hardest native to
go out and procure food, and then the
value of the cache of walrus-meat is ap
preciated, when for weeks and weeks it
forms the beginning and the end of ev-
cry meal. The walrus responds to as
many demands of the Innuit,as the cam
ell of the Arab, or the cocoa palm of the
South Sea islander. Its flesh feeds him;
its oil illuminates and warns his dark
hut; its sinews make his bird nets; its
tough skin, skillfully stretched over the
light wooden frame, constitutes his ia
nous kayak, and the serviceable oomiak,
or bidarrah; its intestines are converted
into waterproof clothing, while the soles
to its flippers are transferred to his feet;
and, finally, its ivory is source of end
less utility to him in domestic use and
in trade and barter
Walrus famines among the EsquimauX
have been recorded in pathetic legends
by almost all of the savage settlements
in the Arctic. Even now, as / write
November 1880, comes the authentic
corroboration of the harsh rumor of the
starvation of the inhabitants of ST. Law
renee Island-those people who live Just
midway between the Old World and the
New, in Alaskan waters. The winter of
1879-80 was one of exceptional rigor in
the Arctic, though in this country it was
unusually mild and open. The ice closed
in solid around st. Lawrence Island
so firm and mistaken by the mighty
powers of wind and tide that the walrus
We're driven far to the southward and
eastward, out of reach OF the unhappy
inhabitants of that island, who, thus un.
expectedly deprived of their mainstay
and support, seem to have miserably
starved to death, with the exception Of
one small village on the north shore. The
residents Of the Poonook, Poogovellyak
and Kagallegak settlements perished, tc
a soul, from nger-nearly three hun
dred men, women and children. l was
among these people in 1874 during the
month of August, and remarked theil
manifold superiority over the savages o:
the north west coast and the great plains
They seemed to live during nine months
of the year, almost wholly upon the tlesl
and oil of the walrus. Clean limbed
bright-eyed, and jovial, they Profound,
impressed one with their happy subsst
ence and reliance upon the warus herd
of Behrirg Sea; and it was remarle,
then that these people had never been sub
jected 10 the temptation-aud subsequen
sorro w--of putting their trust in princes
hence their independence and goo,
heart. But now it appears that it vii
not suffice, either, to put your trust il
Walrus.-ScriJper.