Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-09-30

A MAN who camped out two weeks
and ate half-cooked meat, smoke favored
end sooty fish, stale bread and coffee as
unpalatable as m league cure" COM
menced to grumble at his wife's cook
ing MS soon MS he got home and sat down
to the supper table. Perhaps he didn't
bring his appetite with him.
TRADING IN TIE ARCTIC REGIONS.
We went ashore on Diomede island
and greatly enjoyed stroll through the
streets and houses of the curious Esqui-
maux village here. II is built on the
bald, rugged side OF the island, where
the slope is almost cliff-like in steepness
and rockiness. The winter houses are
wood-lined burrows under ground, en-.
teredby tunnel, and warm and snug like
the nest of field-mo,ise beneath a sod,
though terribly thick and rancid as to
the air contained in them. The summer
houses are square skin boxes above
ground, and set on long silt poles.
Neither the one nor the other look the
least like houses or huts OF any sort,
but those made of skin are the queerest
human nests conceivable. They are
simply light, square frames made Of
drift-poles gathered on the beach and
covered With wnlrus hide that has been
carefully dressed, and stretched tightly
on the frame like the head O; drum.
The skin is Of c yellow color and quite
translucent, so that one fcols when in it
as ii inside huge blown bladder, the
light sitting in through the skin by the
top and all around, yellow as sunset.
The entire establishment is window, one
pane for the roof, which is also the cell.
ing, and one for each of the four sides,
without cross sash-bars to mar the brave
simplicity of it all.
Most OF the inhabitants, OF whom
there are perhaps about 100, had Just
returned from long voyage in their
canoes to Cape Prince OF Wales, Kotze-
bue sound and other points on the
American coast for the purposes Of trade,
bringing back ivory aud furs to sell to
the Tschukchis of Siberia, who in turn
will carry these articles by roundabout,
way, nearly 1000 miles, to the Russian
trading post, and bring back goods to
trade back to the Diomede merchants,
through who's lands they will pass TO
the Cape Prince OF Wales natives. and
from these to several others up the In
land river, down the Colville to Point
Barrow. and eastward as far as the
mouth of the Mackenzie river. Tho
Diomede merchants are true middlemen,
and their village ahalf-way house Of COM
merce between Northwestern Asia and
The extent Of the dealings Of
these people, usually regarded as saw
ages, Is truly surprising. And that they
can keep warm and make living on
this bleak, fog-smothered, storm beaten
rock, and have time to beget, and feed,
and train children. and give them good
Esquimaux education, teach them TO
shoot the bow, throw the bird-spears
and make them, teach them to make and
use those marvellous kyacks, kill seals,
bears. walrus, hunt the whale, capture
The different kinds Of fishes, manuiact-
are different sorts Of leather. dress
skins and make them into clothing. build
hose strange houses. teach them to
larry ON trade, make fire by rubbing
Two pieces Of wood together that they
IAN do ali this. and still have time 10 be
'ociable. dance. sing. gossip. and dis
'uss ghosts. spirits, and all the nerve
'haking marvels Of the Shaman world.
shows how truly wild and brave and
capable apeopls these island Esquimsux
A,air's letter to San Fran
,isc,9 BuiietjH.