Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-08-12
ESuuimaux Hospitality.

AL mlun1gnt we arrived at village,
which proved to be much larger than
We thought, consisting Of twenty-six
nuts and about 800 inhabitants. Being
conducted to the chief, he received us
very kindly and allowed us to pitch our
tent, which we did in SHORT order, the
natives helping us to do SO and to un-
pack our sledges. The chief had Rus
sian tea prepared for us in his dwelling.
On tho table, consisting of O small box
with really clean cover, was tea SER
vice of four pretty cups and saucers. 1t
took about two hours to get through
with the drinking, which was followed
by feast of deer meat. We contrib
uted to the feast by furnishing some
hard bread and coffee. The women ap-
pear to be the domestics and are not al
lowed around when the men are drink
ing tea, except to wait on them. which
they do with the right arm and breast
uncovered. We found the oil stove we
brought along of the greatest utility,
but it did hot compensate for the very
great Inconvenience caused by the alb
sepce of sugar, cups, plates and spoons,
which ir the hurry and confusion Incl
dent to departure were forgotten. Hav-
chief, it was 4 O'Clock in the morning
before We were able to turn in. Then
we were Obliged to make tb, hlatives leave
by signs that we wanted to go to sleep.
50 great was their curiosity i'll looking
at the only white people they had ever
seen. Gesler and myself spread orr
skius and prepared to take It easy. Our
drivers found quarters iii some OF the
huts. II Wis 8 o'clock when We got up
aftpr elcopless night. The weather
continued the sauna thick snow
storm. Gesler went out Tor the pur-
pose Of shooting duck, but was unable
to find one. Being warned that it was
unsafe to travel till the subsidence of
the storm, we concluded to stop until
the following morning. La the after
noon, the highest point of the island be-
ing ascend ID. in WAS found to be 1900
feet by the barometer. The thermome-
ter stood at 81 deg; open water could
be Seen from the toy, apparently twenty
miles away, and for few minutes the
mainland could be seen to the westward
about eight miles Of. Thenatives almost
pull our tents to pieces trying to crowd
in, and tdey leave US alone only when
we tell them wo want TO sleep. Our
slcdges have been repaired and our dogs
have been fed for the first time. Late
III the evening tho weather cleared lit.
tie, when the main land could be seen
from our tent. 1t was nearly midnight
before we turned in.
We turned out early the noxt morning,
and prepared breakfast of potatoes, ba-
con, coffee and the large eggs which
had been brought us by the young ma
tiyes. 1t is the first real meal we have
had since leaving the ship. The day
was warm and pleasant, making the
snow too warm to travel. However, We
struck our tent and packed everything
on the sledges ready for an early start
in tho evening. 1t took some time to
collect the dogs, as some OF them had
gone sealing with their natives. We
left two letters with the chief, and his
wife invited us to eat some fish at their
house. They might have been very
good if properly cooked and served. AS
it was they were served in large tray
not over clean, into which the bones,
along with saliva were elected from the
mouths of the native guests, who assist
ed at the feast. All, except ourselves,
among whom was divided one fork, ate
with tlngers.--Lieut. Reynolds 4ac-
count Of the CortOsn Cruise.