The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-24
THE NATIVES OF ALASKA.
Observations Of ar. American
Explorer.

How the People are Clothed, their
Dwellings and Food Supplies.
Some of the results achieved by
Lieutenant G. N. Stony's exploring ex-.
petition in Northern Alaska will be
found full of interest, says the New
York Herald. The following obser-
vations by Lieutenant Stony Of the ma
tives, their mode Of life, etc., together
with other matters in this connection,
may not prove embarrassing. He
writes:
"These people live in huts made
partly under ground and subsist prin-
cipally upon the meats of animals, fish
and game, their vegetable supply be-
ing limited to leaves and roots of a
few plants and a small supply of ber-
ries, which latter are collected during
the summer months.
"They are a healthy, hardy race.
comparing favorably in size with the
white men; complexion a bright bru-
nette. eyes small and black and nearly
even with the face, high forehead,
nose small and rather fat, excellent
teeth, coarse black hair. They tattoo
very little, only a few lines on the
lower lips and chins of the women.
Wearing Of the labrett is confined ex-
clusively to the men. and even they
do not all wear it. Nonose ornaments
were seen, and in a few instances only
were earrings observed. All the men
are beardless. 1t 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 it to hang down, ex-
cept m front of their faces. They 20
without head covering during the
summer, and are much more clearly
in their habits than the Tchoutches of
Siberia
"The native dress is made principal
~ from the skin of the reindeer; the
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 sometimes trousers
from the same. The shirts in shape
resembles that worn by the white man.
but no buttons or f~astenings are used.
a hole being cut in the upper part just
large enough to admit the head, to
which is sewed q hood to be worn in
cold weather. The overshirt (coat)
is made long. reaching to the knees,
and ornamepted and trimmed with
long hairs of various animals. Some
OF the coats are made from inferior
furs (such as ground squirrel) and
skins of water. fowl, sc. These are
very light and worn only in ~.
Lighter trousers are also made LOT
summer wear from the skins of seals.
those of the younger and smaller ones
being preferred. Both drawers and
rousers are confined at the waist by a
cord. Except during rainy weather
the coat and trousers are worn with
the hairy side out, but with the under
clothing the hair is worn next the
body. The socks and boots are very
similar in shape. the latter having a
thick sole made from the skin of the
wairus or large seal. The boots for
summer are made from sealskin en-
tirely, the hair being removed in tan
ming; the legs are long. never below
n knee and sometimes extending be-
low the waist; they are waterproof,
but not warm. During snow storms
or drifts an overall is worn to keep the
snow out of the hair, which is very es-
sential for the preservation of the
reindeer skin garments. These over
all are made from entrails of seals.
b%uckskin, drilling and calico, the lat
ter being preferred when obtainable.
Straw Is placed in the bottom of the
boots for warmth and to give a soft
footing for the wearer.
"The dress Of the women lie much
like that of the men. the only differ
ence being a slight variation in the
pattern of the overshirt ~(coat). Heavy
mitts are made from the reindeer and
moose skins and occasionally from
sealskins, and are worn nearly all the
time. summer and wintar