Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-10
NORTHERN ALASKA.
Lieutenant q. M. Stonoy's Explor.
ing Expedition.
His Description OF Native Customs. Mode
OF Life. Etc.-Subterranean Houses
-AnimAis. Game and Fish
In Abundance.

OF Life. Etc.-Subterranean Houses
-AnimAis, Game and Fish
In Abundance.
Some OF the results achieved by Lieu.
tenant G. NJ. Stoney's exploring expe-
dition in Northern Alaska will be found
full of interest Upon the completion
of the duty of distributing presents to
the Tchoutche Indians as reward for
their services to the shipwrecked crew
of the ill.fated Rodgers. this officer
found himself, in July. 1888. without
means of returning south and forced to
await the appearance Of the revenue
cutter Corwin in Hotham Inlet. Kotze-
buc Sound, on her homeward trip.
From the lips of the grateful natives
fell wondrous tales Of mighty river 10
the northward and westward-greater
than the Yukon--thc mouths Of which
were readily recognized at the extrein.
ity of Hotham Inlet. The singular
unanimity of the descriptions OF this
stream given by the natives, although
coming from Indians living hundreds
of miles apart, tended to strengthen
and confirm the opinion already enter
tanned by Stoney as to its size and inn
portance. Availing himself, therefore.
of such information as seemed to him
most worthy of credence. and accom-
panied by one white man, the interpre-
ter, and native who claimed TO live
several hundred miles up the reported
river, he proceeded in the dingy Of tho
Corwin, which had been left behind for
his use by the commander OF that ves-
sci, to obtain such reliable information
In regard to the same as the lindted
period of limo at hIs disposslwspld'
permit. OF the natives. their mode OF
life. etc., together with other mattsrs
in this connection, Lieutenant Stonsy
writes:
These people live in huts made
partly under ground and subsist prin.
cipally upon the meat Of animals, fish
and game, their vegetable supply be-
ing limited to leaves and roots Of q few
plants and q small supply Of berries.
which latter are collected during the
summer months. They are healthy,
hardy race, comparing favorably in
size with the white men; complexion.
n bright brunette, eyes small and black
and nearly even with the face, high
forehead. nose small and rather fiat,
excellent teeth. coarse black hair.
They tanoo very little, only few lines
on the lower lips and chins Of the wom-
en-. Wearing of the labrett is confined
exclusively to the men, and even they
do not all wear 1t. No nose ornaments
were seen, and in few Instances only
were earrings observed. All OF the
men are beardlcss. II Is said that they
pull the beard out. The women wear
the hair long and plated into two
braids behind. The men also wear the
hair long and allow 1t to hang down,
except in front Of their faces. They 60
without head covering during the sum.
mer, and are much more cleanly In
their habits than the Tchoutohes Of
Siberia.
"The native dress is made principally
from the skin of the reindeer; tho
undergarments from the skin Of the
younger ones; trousers. overshirts
(coats) and socks from the skin Of the
older ones; boots are made from the
tougher skin Of the legs. and some
times trousers from the same. The
shirt in shape resembles that worn by
the white man, but no buttons or
fastenings are used. a hole being cut In
the upper part just large enough 70 ID
NIT the head. to which is sewed hood
to be worn In cold weather. The over
shir. 'coat) is made long, reaching 10
the tnecs, and ornamented and
trimmed with long hairs OF various AMI
mails. Some of the coats are made
from inferior furs (such as ground
squirreD and skins Of water fowl, etc.
These are very light and worn only in
summer. Lighter trousers are also
made for summer wear from the skins
of seals, those of the younger and
smaller ones being preferred. Both
drawers and trousers are confined
at the waist by cord. E~-
cept during rainy weather the coat
and trousers are worn with the hairy
side out, but with the underclothing
the hair is worn next to the body, The.
socks and boots are vdly simh.l
shape, the latter having o thick
made from the skin Of tho walrus< I
large seal. The boots for summer siS
made from scalskin entirely, the hltr
being removed in tanning; the legs sic
long, never below tho knee and some
times extending below the waist; fhtJ
arc waterproof, but not warm. Dur
ing snowstorms OF. drifts "a ovorstl b
worn to keep the snow out Of the Rair.
which is very essential ferthe prsssr.
vstion Of the reindeer elin garments.
These overalls are made frcm ortrails
of seals, buckskin, drilling AMI Sslico.
the latter being preferred when 9'.ain.
able. Straw 10 placed ID. tho boDom Of
the boots for warmth and to yiyf . soft