The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-11-21

and eastward, and sounding Hotham inlet
as far as Salawik lake, [ discovered a deep
outlet, which had depth of three fathoms
MODE OF LIFE OF THE NATIVES
The following observations by Lieutenant
Stoney of the natives, their mode of life
&c, together with other matters in this
connection, may not prove uninteresting
He writes
"These people live in huts made partly
under ground, and subsist principally upon
the meats OF animals, fish and game, theil
vegetable supply being limited to leaves
and roots of few plants and small sup
ply of berries, which latter are collected
during the summer months
"They are healthy, hardy race, COM
pairing favorably in size with the white
men; complexion a 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 tattoo very little, only few lines on
the lower lips and chins of the women.
Wearing of the labrett is confined exclu-
sively to the men, and even they do not all
wear it. No nose ornaments were seen,
and in few instances only were earrings
observed All of the men are beardIess.
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, except in front of their faces They
go without head covering during the sum-
mer, and are much more cleanly in their
habits than the Tchoutches of Siberia.
CLOTHED IN SKINS.
''The native dress is made principally
from the skins of the reindeer; the under
garments 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 skins of the legs,
and sometimes trousers from the same
The shirt in shape resembles that worn by
the white man, but no buttons or fastenings
are used, hole being cut in the upper part
just large enough to admit the head, to
which is sewed hood to be worn in cold
weather. The overshirt (coat) is made
long, reaching to the knees, and ornamented
and trimmed with long hairs of various an
imals. Some of the coats are made from
inferior furs (such as ground squirrel and
skins Of waterfowl, &c. These arc 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 a cord. Except during rainy
weather the coat and trousers are worn
with the hairy side out, but with the un-
derclothing the hair is worn next to the
body. The socks and boots are very sim
liar in shape, the latter having thick sole
made from the skin Of the walrus or large
seal. The boots for summer are made from
seal skin entirely, the hair being removed
in tanning. The legs are long-never be-
low the knee, and sometimes extending
below the waist, They are water proof,
but not warm. During snow storms or
drifts an overall is worn to keep the snow
out of the hair, which is very essential to
the preservation Of the reindeer-skin gar
ments. These overalls are made from the
entrails of seals, buckskin, drilling and cal
leo, the latter being preferred when attain
able. Straw is placed in the bottom of the
boots for warmth and to give soft foot
ing for the wearer.
''The dress of the women is much like
that of the men, the only difference being
a slight variation in the pattern of the
overshirt (coat). Heavy mitts are made
from the reindeer and moose skins, and oc-
casionally from seal-skins, and are worn
nearly all the time, summer and winter.
DWELLING HOUSES,
"The native houses are constructed by
sinking circular hole twelve feet in diam
eteF to depth of three feet into the ground.
Spruce poles, five feet long, are driven
around the side to the depth of one foot
(the bark having been removed), and
placed as close together as possible The
roof made of the same material, is then
put on, leaving circular hole of two feet
in diameter at the top, for the outlet of
smoke and admission of light. The roof
Is well lashed by means of rope made from
the bark of the spruce The entire hut
above ground is then covered with straw
and earth. The entrance to the hut is
subterranean, passage way being dug at
an angle of forty five degrees from the ez-
terror of the hut to the floor, which passage
way is carefully protected in the same
manner as the roof,
FOOD SUPPLIES.
"These people never want for food
The country abounds in animals and game,
and the river in fish, Large numbers Of
reindeer are killed, generally shot, although
during winter it quite frequently happens
that many are captured by driving them
into ravines, where they sink into the deep
SHOWS and fall an easy prey to the hunters
The following is list of animals whose
skins are preserved by the natives, viz
Bear (black, brown and gray), moose, fox
(white, black, red-cross and silver-grey),
martin, sable, land and water otter, mink,
wolf, beaver and lynx. The meats of all
these animals are used for food, but great
preference is given to the reindeer, moose
and bear The latter are usually shot, the
former trapped. The fish caught are of
many varieties, including large quantities
of salmon, whitefsh, mullet, pike aud soul
pin. The salmon are chiefly caught in
Hotham inlet, on at the mouth of the river
that empties intoit; the other fish are caught
in the river. They are mostly caught in
the summer by means of the gill-net or
speared, the dexterity with which this is
done being something marvellous The
pike weighs FROM seven to ten pounds,
Rhiteash from one to two, and mullet from
three to four pounds. In the winter fish
are also taken through the ice by hook and
line The hook used consists simply of a
fiat piece of ivory, with sharp piece of
metal screwed into one end of It at right
angles to the face of the ivory, White
whales are caught in Hotham inlet, and it
is regarded by the natives as a great and
dangerous feat to catch one. Those who
are successful are looked upon as men of
distinction. Hair seals are also caught in
Hotham inlet, but they do not seem to go
up the river.
Salt and Mustard Antidote.
From the Medical Journal.
If a person swallows any poison whatso-
ever, or has fallen into conyulsions from