The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-29
ODD ALASKANS.
ONE TRIBE OF ESQUIMAUX AS
TALL AS WHITE MEN.
The "Mutes" and Some of Their
Strange Customs-Ivory Worn
in the Lips Their Super
stitions and Dress.

Dwelling in that portion of the Terri
tory of Alaska north of the Arctic circle
is race of sturdy, docile, but withal in.
dependent. people. These people have
no name as race, but designate them,
selves as '!mutes" which literally trans.
lated means "a dweller at or upon" Fol-
instance, a native born at the village on
Point Hope Zig -erach) is Tigerach-
mute; one born at Point Barrow is n
Noo-wuk mute, and so on, deriving their
ella; ;siication from the place of nativity.
The popular idea prevails that these
people resemble those living on the east
ern shores of the Arctic Ocean and
Greenland, but while on the Greenland
side the stature of the native, is small,
upon the Alaskan side numerous meas.
uIements taken by me of both sexes show
an average height in the males of five
feet eight inches and in the females five
feet four inches. There are many men,
and women, too, especially at Point Bar
row and Point Hope, that measure nearly
six feet, and all we'll proportioned. In
their facial characteristics these people
partake of the Mongolian type. Exam
! ination of skulls and living persons shows
the high prominent check bones, th2
oblique-shaped eye setting, the elong gated
nostrils, and straight, coarse black hair
! of the Asiatic race. BY reason of their
hardy life their limbs are of strong
mold. The only malformation that |
observed among them was tendency in
the knees and feet to bend inward. More
especially is this to. be noticed in the w.
men, circumstance I attribute to their
carrying heavy weights upon the lower
portion OF the spine. while the uneven
surface of the ground forbids walking in
any level manner. Another reason for
this m slformation is the length of time
these people are confined to their boats
when travelling along the coast. Through
out the entire Territory of Alaska and
the Aleutian Islands it is very rare to see
a native OF either sex exhibiting q perfect
carriage. The Aleuts at the Seal Islands
and Onalaska, both male, and females,
resemble in their walk the waddle of
duck.
Physically these mutes are very strong,
their powers Of endurance are great, and
as sequence to the sole aim of their eX-
istence-i. e.: to obtain food-their pow
ers of observation and acuteness in hunt
ing, both on land and sea, are strongly
developed. Were it not for the thick
layers OF dirt covering Their skin the
complexion of these people would be al
mo- white Until old age comes on their
teeth are we'll shaped and sound; their
eyes of deep brown hue, bright and
sparkling, and extremely expressive.
Many cases of marked good looks can be
seen among them, while intelligent and
pleasing manners are general characteris-
tics. The family relations existing be-
tween these people are somewhat diff
cult to determine. This arises from the
fact that when man takes a wife he
may retain her as long as he pleases, or
she may leave him and obtain another
protector. Instances where the woman.
never leaves her first protector are rare.
The custom of adoption by purchase or
gift is another peculiarity among these
people. In common with Asiatic tribes,
the desire for male offspring is great,
not in any way to perpetuate the family
name, but simply a, provision against
old age on the'parents' part. Adoption
is generally resorted to when the first
wife has no m lie offspring. Garrulity is
n prominent trait among the women, who
are quite on q pr with their civilized
sisters in retailing gossip. When a man
desires to become possessed Of a girl to
share his fortunes ve,tures are made to
her parents and h,rself. Should acqri-
essence be obtained, presents of sklns
and food are made to the girls plrents
and she becomes his spouse. Sucn emo
tions as loxe, tenderness, or endearment
are unknown; the woman is simply re-
gardcd as worker, to sew and cook.
Upon the least fit of anger upon his part
cuffs, blows and kicks are showcred upon
her, but these do not create mu h aston
ishment in the village, simply form ng
theme of gossip among the old women.
Women do by far tn; greatest share Of
labor. 1t is their lot TO drag the seals
over the ice when shot; to tramp niles
to fetch deer or other game to the vii
lage; to cook, to make fires, sew, and re-
pair boats aad garments, and attend 10
every matter of household duty. The
noble lord of creation confines himself to
hunting and trapping.
A belief in the presence. of evil spirits
constitutes the only religious ideas
among the mutes Th.rc are among them
individuals called Toonrachs, corre-
spending to the shaman of the Siberian
tribes. If a person is sick before the
whaling season commences, or a chile is
born before going on Journey, or build
ing house, the services OF the >ham IN
is called into requisitlon. The modus
operandi in every case is very 8 m lar.
The shaman, after long spell of silence,
suddenly begins to roll his eyes, couvll-
sive shakes pervade his frame, and he
gives uttcrance to various groans and
sighs interminglcd with sentences per-
taining to the subject upon which he is
engaged. During the time of his per-
formance q continuous beating upon u
drum is kept up. Toward the end par
oxysms. or rather convulsions of exulta-
tions milar to what have been de-
scribed as prevailing at the finale Of
Shaker meeting, are exhibited by the
shaman. Froth eXudes from his mouth,
his eyes glare and roll, and his whole
frame is contortcd. Precipitation pours
from his face, and he is entirely ex-
hausted. The loud invocations to the
evil spirits to vacate the body of the sick
person, or to drive them away from the
sea to enable the whales or seals TO ar
rive, become gradually subdued, dying
away into incoherent mlItterings. Then