The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-05-23
CRUISING In A WHALER.

leaving San Francisco last December, went
whales as kind of preparatory drill before
attacking the larger and more valuable bow
heads of the north From Mexico the bark
cruised south, going short distance beyond
the equator hence to Honolulu, picking up a
few sperm whales as they went along. Early
in May we reached the ice in the Behring
sea- The ice was broken into cakes, formed
into strips by the action of winds and cur
rents. These strips of ice were sometimes of
considerable breadth and length. There was
clear water between, through which the
ships sailed, but when body of ice was in
the way the ships did not hesitate to run
through it, taking care not to strike the YES
sci too hard The ice prevented any sea
whatever rising. In the latter part OF May
we reached the ST. Diomede Islands, between
East cape, Asia, and Cape Prince OF Wales,
America. The straits were comparatively
free from ice. Canoes full of natives came
off to the ship from Western Diomede and
East cape to sell skin clothing for tobacco,
ammunition and rum the latter articles they
did not get. We had just taken bowhead
whale and permission being given, the ma
tives completely stripped the whale of its
black skin, which is about an inch thick all
over the body. They devoured the raw blub-
Der as ravenously as wolves. AS the ice re-
ceded north the ship advanced. Whales being
oh to
frequent By the LIST of July we had gone as
far north as Icy cape, the highest point
reached by Capt Cook, the great circumnavi-
gator, who fell at Kalakakua bay, Hawaii.
About fifty miles off this cape the ship COM
menced killing walrus on the ice. A few
years ago whalemen harpooned walrus from
their whale-boats. Now it is difficult to get
within gun shot of them. To kill them they
must be shot in the neck, and if the first shot
fails they will all jump off the ice. However,
should they stand fire more than half fall
overheard and sink. A walrus produces
about seventeen gallons of oil and five pounds
of ivory.
In the latter part of July the ships came to
anchor at Point Barrow. The northern coast
of Alaska is low level and marshy, without q
tree or shrub. Mosquitoes, large and fierce,
darken the air and sing in dismal chorus from
Cape Lisbourne to Point Barrow. Point Bar
row is long, narrow peninsula, on which
there is a considerable settlement of Esqui-
maux The natives have driftwood stuck up
on end on each side of the peninsula to direct
the flight of wild ducks across given point,
where they conceal themselves behind a
breastwork to either shoot or kill them with
sings as they fly over. The Esquimaux eat
every part of an animal or fowl. Even the
entrails are utilized, and of walrus they even
eat the hide, which is often more than an
inch in thickness. When any game is brought
in it is buried if the weather is fine they
will cook it, otherwise they eat it raw. In
the winter these people live in underground
houses, in summer they live in tents made of
walrus hide; but these of Point Barrow have
plentiful supply of canvas from the sails Of
numerous whale-ships wrecked in that vicin-
ity, and all their tents are made of this can
guns in nearly every tent there was a
breech-loading rifle, and shot-guns of ancient
and modern patterns were scattered around
in great profusion. In the summer time they
travel along the coast in their skin canoes );
in winter they hitch their dogs to sledges and
move over the ice. On the eastern extremity
of Point Barrow the Esquimaux lay their
dead wrapped in canvas, with their personal
property beside them, exposed to the ele-
ments and wild beasts. There were about as
many dead as live natives on the Point All
the Esquimaux bear the imprint of intense
suffering, their faces being covered with hair
like wrinkles. Contact with civilization has
been most fatal to the Esquimaux. Besides
supplying them with rum and communicating
to them foul diseases, the Americans have
wantonly destroyed the walrus, their main de-
pendence for food. Walrus are now getting
scarce and wild, and are practically beyond
their reach. Starvation has already made
heavy inroads among them.
Now is the time when the base ball player
is abroad in the land and the history of his ex