The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-09
SIBERIAN ESKIMOS
Living Like WOOdchuckS Under.
ground.
DIVERSIONS IN MID-wINTER
How Their Homes Are Built-Samples of
Their Domestic Arrangements-A
Queer People.

For TIE SUNDAY Neutrality-suspicious.
1t seems to be the popular belief that all
Eskimo live in snow huts, or ig-loos, dur
ing the winter. When l went to the Arctic
in 1857, looked forward to seeing plenty Of
these habitations. 1 had not read up at all
in regard to the natives of Arctic Siberia
or Alaska, but took it for granted that they
were like the Eskimo whom Kane and many
other Arctic travellers have so Interestingly
described. So, without giving the matter
a second thought, L took all these precon-
ceived notions for granted. In dreamily
anticipating the strange things was to
see, visions Of clusters of snow huts, hur-
rying dog sleds and other
TYPICAL ESKIMO SCENES
that we all are SO familiar with passed be-
fore me.
After entering Behring sea we sailed
northwesterly and reached the coast of ST.
IBERIA, about five hundred miles south Of
Behring straits. Here, at Cape Tchaplln,
was the largest settlement OF Eskimo on
the coast of Siberia. The cape is q long
narrow point of land juttlrg boldly out into
the sea for eight or ten miles. IL is a sand
pile thrown up by conflicting currents a
few feet higher than the sea, and at its
very extremity-one the bleak point ex
posed to the full sweep of all the cold
Arctic winds the settlement, cluster
OF perhaps fifty huts made upon the gen
eral plan of an Indian wigwam. These
found to be permanent abodes, and inhaD-
tied all the year round. / inquired for the
snow huts, and learned that their use was
very little known, l might say. unknown,
for the snow shelters these Siberian
Eskimo use are the most temporary simple
affairs possible, were shelter for few
hours, or perhaps night or two from an
unexpected cold piercing gale that is laden
with chill, accumulated from blowing over
hundreds of
MILES OF ARCTIC ICE AND SNOW.
Here was a disappointment. One of the
most picturesque, characteristic parts of
was wanting. But, after ali, these were
only Siberian Eskimo. Over on the coast
of Alaska we would find the genuine Es-
kimo, with ali the necessary accomani-
ments that they were expected TO have. II
seemed as though something was lacking in
these Siberian Eskimo to make them the
genuine article. And yet. their huIs
were, perhaps, more interesting than the
snow huts would have been.
The typical hut of the Siberian Eskimo
is circular, and from fifteen to twenty feet
in diameter. 1t is rude framework made
of pieces Of driftwood gathered along the
beach, put together without the use Of
nail, but dashed at all necessary points with
strips Of sealskin. The poles forming the
roof slant up to q common point, and here
a small hole is left open at all times for
smoke and foul air to get out, and not in
frequently for snow and fresh air to get in.
This whole framework is covered with
walrus hides carefully sewed together,
and oftentimes stretched on while green,
Walrus had now become SO scarce that
these hides are usually split in order to
make the supply go round.
AN ESKIMO WOMAN
with common sheath knife will split one
of these hides with the greatest of ease.
The doorway TO these huts is an opening
about two feet and a half wide, and per-
haps five feet high. Such a hut has con-
siderable interior space, and perhaps two
or three families will occupy il.