The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-10-04
AMONG The ESOulMAUx.
Difficulties In the Way of Getting Good
Pictures of Them.

Difficulties In the Way of Getting GOOD
Pictures of Them.
The Esquimaux of Arctic Siberia ara
so shv of a camera that found it very
difficult to get good pictures of them.
1t interested them to watch the opera
ton when, sailors were being photo
graphed. but they could not be induced
to undergo the ordeal themselves. But
as my camera was detective" | got
dozens of pictures without arousing
their superstitious dread. Occasionally
native that had done service as a
sailor. would be willing to stand for
his picture, but the results in such in
stances were not satisfactory. The
striking Esquimau characteristic which
I wanted most did not get.
After long experimenting 1 found it
most satisfactory to sit on the carpen-
ter's bench. hold my camera on my
knee. and wait for subjects; and l never
had to wait long, for by the time our
anchor was down, the natives would be
alongside with their canoes and swarm
on board. First, they would get drink
of water. then most of them would go
forward-some on the starboard side.
others on the porto beg hard bread
and other edibleS from the sailors.
From my position l commanded full
view of both sides of the ship, and so
got many good pictures.
While we were at East Cape, the
easternmo:t extremity of Siberia, SIM
pie, tall, gaunt-lOOking old man rama
off with a small child. Like the others,
he got drink of water and begged a
piece of hard bread for himself and the
child; then he sat the child down on
the top of cask that stood dashed to
the port rail. while he went aft to
watch the captain trade with the other
natives. Here was the very picture I
had been waiting for: plump little
Esquimau, all bundled up with furs.
His face was unusually bright, showing
that he was a favorite child. In his
two hands was cake of hard bread
which he was devouring vOraciously.
Unfortunately the sun was back of
him. To get a good light on his face
| had to turn him around. To be pre-
pared for quick work, | changed a
plate, set the snap shutter, put the
! camera on the bench, then saunterea
over to where he was and playfG:-S;
twisted him around so that [ could get
a good light On him. He did not mind
my moving him as long as l did not
interrupt his eating, so got him in
just the pose and light | wanted. Then
| started back for my camera. AS ! was
innocent of all evil intentions did not
suspect interference, but it seems that
the old native had watched with a keen
eye every move l made, and when he
saw me going back for my camera. he
felt that there must be trouble in store
for the child. Like a flash he darted
past me, grasped the camera, and
started for the side of the ship to throw
it overheard.
Here, drop thatr' l shouted, but he
did not, or would not, hear me. stop
him! stop him!" called frantically as |
jumped across the main hatch and
rushed after him. Eight thousand miles
from home and to lose my only camera
that way!
A sailor who sat on the bench wit
messed the whole thing. and jumping
to the rail almost knocked the native
over in his attempts to rescue the
Loo Hn cd in ND
soon came up with a Here's your box"
Defeated in destroying the apparatus
of evil magic, the man ran to the child,
gathered him hurriedly off the cash,
and carried him to dark corner on
the quarter deck where there were
several Esquimau women, and among
them they tucked him away out of the
reach of the camera.
watched patiently for three hours,
determined to get some sort of a plct-
ure of the child, but it was useless.
| The old natives vigilance OutwOre my
patience. and at last l turned my at
tention to other subjects. Curiosity led
the old man to attempt to investigate
further into the mysteries of the black
box, and while was preparing to pho
tograph another Esquimau, glanced
around and there stood the man watch
ing me.
"Click!" | had it.
If could not get picture of the
child. was bound to get one of the
man, but he saw nothing suspicious in
my actions, and walked off satisfied
that every thing was all right. Wide
Awake.