The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-12
THE THlinKeTs OF ALASKA.



Alaskan music IL not unlike Chinese
in its monotony. The instrumental
music is extracted principally from
guitar OF two strings, But there can
be no doubt of the ThIinket's musical
aptitude. This is shown by the ci1IE-
dren at the mission schools. All AIask-
ans have the same difficulty ms the CHI
Hese in pronouncing and v. Hheu-
matism becomes fiiinatfsn1. eSeFE.
ebly. story. stoiy. Years. yeabs. PF0~
nunciation varies with the situation IT
the letter.
& A hideous peeuIiarfty of the Think
cts is the wearing among the Women
of what is called the .1alreffer IN
slit made below and horizontal Hitll
the mouth Oddly enough. nmsng
the Eskimos the men often insert efnl-
liar atrocities in the corners of their
mouths.
When the girls arrive AZ the age of
Ii or Is the center of the untier lip L
perforated; aud piece OF copper wfre
introduced 10 prevent the aperlure
from closing. fills aperture IS grafi-s
uaiir lengfhenetI. and tile wooden or
ivory ornaments are enlarged in pro-
portion till thew are freaucntfv i'm
creased TO three and even four inches
In length and almost equal I'm wIifiz-
This generally happens when tie
| matrou is advanced in rears aud the
muscles are relaxed.
The Iabretfe Is followed out on each
side like a spoon. though not quite 50
deep; the edges are likewise hoIIowed
in the form ola pulley. i'm order to liz
this precious ornament more firmly tn
| the lin.
1t is rare now on the costst To see
| labrettes worn bx Young wonen- TheT
| think them foolish. having been So
verely criticised l,y the whites and told
| that they are u1lv- Vanity prevents
them from slistortiag their not toe
| pleasing faces, but / saw lfany = L.
bretfe worn Ity old women. aud hid
cons enough was the spectacle
IL IS said-I viii not voaeh for the
| truth of the statement-that this orua-
IBent is sometimes as useful as It has
/ heretofore been considered ornamental.
| afforsiing a firm hold for fair fingers
OF their possessors wiaeu engaged In
/ drunken bFoiis-
i The ThlinkIets. like pEsfer natfFa
| races. are hospitaI.le to a fnuIf WHea
| an Indian has surplus Of fossd 81. II
not happy until his friends help bin. d
| eat il up. What fhey caHnof dexbaf
Oh cf1Jl tltEt a. ~ tsC--t4-t4 -
| away A host is offended il his g1sesls
do not partake of everything set I1e.
fore them; il strangers are among { q
visitors. four or lire feasts are ntsf x1n'
i common in single dar. When jtfs4xa
i Swan was anticipating such an infiie-
ton, his Insiiaa ro,nlsanioR warzfzsfl
him not TO eat too ms.rii lest he S1louza
l.e SICK aud not be able 10 eat unso Ii
bitter end
The pot is always on the fire and tlz
food Is almost all boiled. although Hu1sl
| and water of forbiddin- texture Is offs
en- fried.
i sMnck-a-mueks is seaweed It look
not unlike tobacco. and is rhewed. hsl
when cooked with vinegar il Is said Z
be good to eat.
The leaves of the bearberrF or kfn
: nikinick are mixed with tobacco Tol
smoking to exc out the precious mar
cutie. These leaves are used for IN
same purpose BY all North America
Indians. Once they were pounded Il
mortars. still extanf. but of no furihe
use, for tobacco has superseded ti1
native plant and small Indian hoys ar
seen smoking the efTeminafe cigarettl
! with marvellous nonchalance- Sprucl
gum is the woman's joy Their jaws ar
perpetually going. aud the expeetora
tion is-gener0us-
: Though the Thiinkets are apparent
ly very dirty. owing TO never chansin;
their clothes until the latter are read,
to drop OF in rags. still they wasl
: themselves daily. and are never 5
: persistent in bathing as during Il
winter.
, Corporal punishment is the creates
disgrace that can be inflicted on
I man. and Is rarely resortesl to. savin,
wien n bov refuses 10 shathe in col
$ water. Then argument is pnnctuase q
D by beating with stick which is con
sidered less as punishment than as
d means of hardening the body--Kul
:: Field ia Rtsssis9to11