The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-01-02
DWELLING IN CLIFFS.
The Queer Domiciles OF an Alaska Tribe OF
F,auuInnaux.

The Queer Domiciles OF an Alaska Tr1be OF
EsquImaux.
In prehistoric times, human beings
often dwelt in dens and caves Of the
earth, as much for safety from their
numerous enemies as for shelter. Cave
towns were even excavated in the sides
of cliffs with what must have been,
considering the rude tools employed,
an enormous expenditure OF labor.
The evidences of this custom are nu-
merous in Asia Minor, in Italy, and in
our own Southwest Territories. To-
day the most notable instance Of cave
houses, on this hemisphere, at least,
is to be seen on what is termed Kings
Island, to the Southeast OF Cape Prince
Of Wales in Behring's Sea, on the west
coast of Alaska
This small island is an elevated ta-
BILE land of basalt. Its shores consist
OF nearly vertical cliffs, fronting the
sea, and ranging in height from fifty
to seven hundred feet. The island is
inhabited by tribal family OF the
Mahlemoots, or Esquimaux, about two
hundred in number, who gained sub
sistence by walrus-hunting, seal-hunt-
ingand whaling. They pursue the
creatures in kyaks or canoes, which they
are very expert in launching through
the surf, and navigating in rough wa
ter.
The summer houses of the islanders
are so many little platforms attached
to the face of the sea-clifs, and com
posed OF whale rib bones, Or shoulder
blade bones, fastened by thongs OF
sinew to large pegs of bone driven into
the interstices of the basalt.. The
platforms are guarded around the out
er side by rail, and are large enough
for the family to lodge upon. They
thus serve at once the purposes OF a
habitation and sentry-box, from
which the hunters may keep a look.
out for walrus and seals.
Fires are kindled on them, and al!
the ordinary affairs of life are pursued
often at a height Of hundred and fifty
feet above the ocean swells, which
thunder on the rocks beneath. Not
even bird, a bank swallow or an
eagle could have a more airy habita-
tion. Like the eagle, the Kings
Islanders have placed their eyries on
the cliffs, to serve as lookouts for their
prey.
The oddity of these singular habita-
tions does not end here, however, since
these platform houses are but the sum-
mer abode of the hunters. The winter
houses are even more remarkable. To
escape the winter storms the islanders
have excavated caves in the shattered
and. scanned basalt-in many cases
caverns of considerable depth and
size. During eight months of the
year these cave dwellings constitute
comfortable retreats from the inclem-
ent weather and also serve as store
houses for the rude wealth of the fam
ily- -Tha,.n-ns.a- IT ctntad-f> -f>..t-->-
fifty such cave-houses, corresponding
to the number of families and to the
platforms of summer. In some cases
the platform-house is at the mouth Of
the cave-house, so that the shift from
summer to winter quarters can be
easily and speedily effected. It is
difficult to conceive of the character of
such life, on the face of a crag,
with the ocean surges beating
far below, and the open sky all
around. What must be the thoughts
and ideas of child, born and nurtured
amidst such strange surroundings!-
Youths Companion.