Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-24
NORTHERN ALASKA.
Lieutenant G. M. Stoney's Explor.
ing Expedition.
His Descriptions of Native Customs, Mode
OF Life Etc.-SubterrREean Houses
Animals, 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, 1883. without
means of returning south and forced to
await the appearance of the revenue
cutter Corwin in Hotham Inlet. kotze-
bue Sound, on her homeward trip.
From the lips of the grateful natives
fell wondrous tales of a mighty river to
the northward and Acknowledgements
than the Yukon-the mouths of which
We're readily recognized at the eXtrem-
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 i'm
portance. Awaiting 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 the
Corwin. which had been left behind for
his use by the commander of that YES
sci. to obtain such reliable information
in regard to the same aS the limited
period of time at his disposal would
permit. Of the natives, their mode OF
life, etc, together with other matters
in this connection. Lieutenant Stoney
writes:
These people live in huts made
partly under ground and Suhsist prin-
cipally upon the meat of animals, fish
and game, their vegetable supply be-
ing limited to leaves and roots Of few
plants and a 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.
a bright brunette, 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 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 it. No nose ornaments
were seen. and i'll few instances only
were earrings observed. All of 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,
except i'll 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.
The native dress is made principally
from the skin of the reindeer; the
uniergarments 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, hole being cut in
the upper part just large enough to ad-
nit the heal, to which is sewed hood
to be worn in cold weather. The over
shirt (coaD is made long, reaching to
the knees. 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 il
summer. Lighter trousers are alsc
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. Ex-
cept during rainy weather the coat
and trousers are worn with the hairy
side out, but with the underclothing
.he hair is worn next to the body. The
socks and boots are very similar IN
shape, the latter having thick sole
made from the skin of the walrus or
large seal The boots for summer are
made from sealskin entirely. the hair
being removed in tanning; the legs are
long, never below the knee and Some-
times extending below the waist; they
are waterproof, but not warm. Dur
ing snowstorms or drifts an overall is
worn to keep the snow out of the hair,
which is very essential for the preser-
walton of the reindeer skin garments.
These overalls are made from entrails
of seals, buckskin, drilling and calico,
the latter being preferred when obtain
able. 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 is much like that of the
men. the only difference being 4 slight
variation in the pattern of the over
skirt (coaD. Heavy mitts are made
from the reindeer and moose skins and
occasionally from sealskins,. and are
worn nearly all the time, summer and
winter.
The native houses are constructed
by sinking a circular hole twelve feet
in diameter to depth of three feet in
to the ground. Spruce poles five feet
long are driven around the side to the
depth of one foot Qhe bark having
been removed), and placed as close
together as possible. The roof, made
Of the same MATERIAL then nut on.