Wichita eagle., 1889-03-09

or with a fine robe that would have made a
splendid coat for winter or blanket for their
bedding, they would inform you that they
were considerably wilder, and that they
were not inclined to believe your story
about such wary creatures ever being
caught and tanned.
The Eskimo of Alaska, however, while
they do not domesticate the reindeer Of the
neighborhood, know that the Asatic saw
ages have herds of tame animals, for one Of
their most desired possessions is coat
pdrka, in the Russian vernacular of that
region-made from the skins of these tame
reindeer. In the domestication of the rein
deer, like that of the OK and other animals,
they have become spotted and yaregated
in color, and this strongly contrasting vari-
alton in the color has enhanced its value to
an exorbitant amount that quite throws the
coat made of wild reindeer into the back
ground, 80 to speak. These Asiatic rein
deer stockmen know how to MAINTAIN a
monopoly quite as well as any more CIVIL
lied money makers. They wlll sell to any
buyer all the reindeer carcasses he can pos
sibly want for meat, and all the hides he
can use in commercial transactions, but ten
times the money paid for the meat and hide
Of an animal would not purchase the animal
itself when alive. They know too well the
value of monopoly. These spotted rein
deer coats find their way by intertribal
commerce across Behring'S strait and from
thence along the Alaskan shores of the
Arctic Ocean and Behring'S sea for consid-
cradle distance. Over four hundred miles
up the great Yukon river of Alaska, be-
yond the Eskimos and among the Indians,
found a spotted pdrka proudly displayed
by it's owner, and every thing l rendered
him for it, just to test his appreciation of it,
was disdainfully refused. The spotted rein
deer of Siberia is probably the most valu-
able kind OF that animal IN the Arctic re-
gions.
But among the Eastern Eskimo. or those
reached by the way of the Atlantic Ocean,
and where the most of my sojourn among
these curious, cold-loving people was cast,
they know only Of the wild animal. al
though it, too, has considerable variety in
color-much more than among our deer Of
lower latitude-and these variations the Es-
kimo women employ in making fancy coats
for their use OF course the reindeer are
not spotted or blotched, but some of them
are almost white and others again quite
dark gray, and on the same animal the
back and neck is much darker shaded than
in color which the women love to use in
making fancy clothes, which, IN my opinion
are far superior to those of the spotted kind
that LOOK like sa illy-designed crazy quilt,
while considerable art, of a savage kind,
however, is shown in the symmetrical dis
tribution Of the opposing colors OF the
others.
But it is not on account of the peculiar
designs that can be made in reindeer cloth
ing which makes it so valuable to the North
ern natives of both continents, but on &C
count of its great warmth as clothing and
bedding, being undoubtedly the warmest
for its weight in the world, and thus placing
in their possession q most valuable ally with
which to combat the intense cold of the
Arctic winter. The Eskimo OF my acquaint-
ance wore these reindeer suits double when
out Of doors, and single when in; or, in
short, removed the outer suit when coming
into the suow-houae as man removes his
overccat as ne enters house in our own
latitude
II is fortunate for the people living in
those regions that this animal is found
in such abundance not altogether on
account Of the excellence of the meat Of
which / have spoken-for the northern
natives pa4ste is Tot & very discriminating
more for the reason that there Is
hardly any equivalent for its warmth IS
Nine-te1ths Of the clothing and
bedding of all the people living On tie shores
CT tie grea: Arctic Sea use thus animals hide
for that purpose. Think can safely say that
on my slecge trip Of nearly year IN length |
saw some twenty thousand 70 twenty five |
thousand Of these Arctic deer, and probably /
the Eskimo hunters Of ny party saw twice |
as many. For four or Eve days | surely |
saw a thousand = day, and probably twice |
that number would be nearer tee truth |
This was in the late fan Of 1873 on tie south |
side of the large island known as King |
Williams Land. which il separated froua 4
the mainland By a narrow STRAIT OF TIE !
Arctic Sea- and which ;hs re,noeef have 70 /
pass On their southwark mRrssasns as the /
winter sets IN. The first cod snap OF :ha: /
year had come and they were pouring down I
hy uUisds from ausyer the huge SAID 10 |