The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-08-23
HUNTING IN ALASKA,
killing Bear-Intlian SuperstitfOn--A
Deer Hunt-A Night Camp.

After tracking two days my companion
and myself secured two natives as guides.
and, leaving the river. set off for the
mountains. At the end of the first day 8
tramp we sighted black bear feeding
upon berries about a mile distant. We
We're both SO exhausted f. om our tiresome
walk across the tundra tnat we concluded
to send one of the guides after the bear.
The Indian first seated himself and ex-
amined his rifle, selecting three cartridges
and placing them in the gum. He then
pulled few hairs from his clothing, which
he threw in the air to ascertain the direc-
ton of the wind, and then started so as
20 come up TO leeV;ard of the bear. We
kept careful watch through a glass, and
saw him on hand and knees work slowly
toward the animal. When within 100
yards he fired two SLOTS. The bear
jumped and fell almost in his tracks.
There are probably no more super
stitious people in the world than the
northern Ala ska Indians. Every action
Of their daily life is governed by some
belief handed down from father to son,
or original ed by the shaman, the Indian
doctor, VINO holds great sway over them.
The ceremonies attending the killing Of
the bear will illustrate. Bruin was first
placed upon his back with the head
toward the mountains. The head was
then skinned, severed from the body and
taken by one of the natives, who, plac-
ing himself astride of the dead animal,
raised and lowered the head three times,
touching the bear just over the heart
each time and muttering some incanta-
ton. The third time he threw it from
him, uttering loud shout i'll which the
other natives joined. This was done to
drive the bears spirit to the mountains
so that it would cause them no future
trouble. A part of the dead animal had
to be left on the spot where he was
killed, or the hunters would get no deer
that season. A camp was made at the
place, and after the head had been
roasted and picked clean it was placed in
the top of high tree, but for what pur-
pose they would not tell The skin was
stretched flat upon the tuntlra-fur side
down. The portion Of the bear not con-
sumed was placed in tree and rude
scarecrow made to keep away birds.
The following winter the skin and meat
We're sledged for and found in good con-
dition.
a deer hunt which we witnessed was
so different from our previous concep-
lions that I think it worthy description.
Upon this occasion, while sleighing with
party of Indians. n herd of deer was
sighted. The natives took their rifles
and started, some going i'll one direction
and some in another, but all keeping to
leeward of the deer. Those who went
directly toward the herd waitetl until the
others had got partly around before start
ing. The first shot was the signal,
whereupon all hands rushed toward the
frightened animals, who separated and
plunged blind1y i'll every direction. The
Indians shouted, making all the noise
possible. the fleeing animals i'll their fear
installing Indians for deer and rushing
Oil until Il shot showed them their error,
when they would turn and flee rs blindly
rs before Even after the first fright
they circled around the danger, trying. to
get together, and i'll this way many more
were killed. AS much meat as could be
carried WAS loaded upon the sled, while
the remainder was cached in the snow,
be sledged for at some future time.
After hard days march, a camp was
established, it being then too dark to
travel. The dogs are first embarrassed,
ard chained separately to bushes to pre-
vent fighting After an hour rest they
are fed upon dried fish, this being the
only meal they receive in twenty-four
hours. They are given all they can eat,
unless the supply is short, and in such
cases their endurance is wonderful, a
small piece Of fish once day sufficing a
90. and enabling him TO work for a couple
weeks \ yrcat many interesting
= could lie @Ivan illustrating the sa~
Ky and endurance Of these animals.
go. rn.c they have 10 affection. They
.r:Ii:r Tie person who feeds them as
= IaasteY, but they obey Only through
-. ILcv are more than half wolf, as
, ! $oung wolves canTLt are raised and
e.. Il Is dogs. In every team there is
..l.trally one dog who constitutes him.
,-.I master. He is naturally one of the
most powerful of the number, and the
others seem to recognize his supremacy.
This dog, upon seeing any one Of the
others habitually Sinking while the rest
are pulling, will attempt to reach and
punish him, and if it is impossible to do
80 while in harness, will deliberately go
10 him when the days sledging is fin
i,iIed and administer the deserved chas-
tiSement.
In establishing night camp when in
q woc.itd country, the most sheltered
spot is selected and a pit is dug in the
snow about fifteen feet in diameter and
:; foot deep. The bottom is then stamped
down to make hard floor. Around
tits pit is built wall about four feet
high, 10y laying young spruce trees on
tcp Of one another and cutting off their
inside branches. This wall has two
openings or breaks Numerically opposed,
dividing the pits into halves with a
through passageway separating them.
Along this way, which must always face
HE wind, dried wood is piled and fired.
On either side pine boughs are laid on
the snow, and OH top of them the sleep
lug bags. Such night camps are easily
made, and the coolest nights can be
comfortably passed i'll them. The only
drawback is the difficulty in getting the
wood.
In conclusion, the Indians of Alaska
have been reported as savage and treach-
erous. In my experience I found the
natives of interior northern Alaska tho
most Kind and hospitable people in the
world. w. L. Howard in Popular Sci
e2ce Monthly.