Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-04-02

Interesting Information Abeut . Com.
parativeiy Unknown Land.

D
Interesting Information Abeut . Com.
paratively unknown Land.
Those who have never seen life as Il ex.
tets among the inhabitants Of the Hudson
! Bay country would be astonished IL the
uNleut Of civilization Among a class OF peo-
pia generally supposed 10 be sayagcs, as
wei as at the awful grandeur Of the seen.
crs and fofhidding aspect OF the graveyard
coasts along The shores of that northern
sea Ia all the uninhabiiable region Of
North America there is nowhere TO be
found more bleak aud desolaie, or dreary
waste than that between Ungava Bay on
the coast Of Labrador ON the east, and Fort
Churchill, on the west and southern part
Of llaison Bay proper. Although little is
known yet regarding this weird and frozen
region, il has had a growth within The last
half century which has been something
Phenomenal, and having been measured
arg ortlng to its needs by the God OF Ma
iuiu hs gone on advancing from age 70
aWe. nnll a The present time, not alone the
M he fertile islands. but the extent OF land
lack from the coast on eithcr side, Is
tnigsiy populated by people who hunt
ami fish and Ire Il and talk and chatter
evea among the misery and destiiution
Which life in region Of perpetual frost
and snow must bring. Hudson Bay itself
is really IN inland sea, extending between
latilase 81 degrees aud "a degrees north,
ani longitude e degrees and 80 degrees
west. and while about 600 miles long at
It's ggeliest distance, is only about 600 miles
in breadth. covering an area ot over 500
900 square miles. Il is nawgaole only for
about three months the year
from The middle June to the
middle Of Scptc er nd for the
remainder OF Tia, ear is filled
with drift ice which renders navigation,
even for short distance. an absolute i'm
possibility. The eastern coasts Of the bay
are sights TO be admired. cliffs rising in
many eases TO a height OF from 200 TO 400
feet abruptly from the waters edge, and
being composed Of glacier like substance
which, beng ever coated with ice and
frcycn snow, shine in the sunlight until il
is almost impossible TO look at them for
any length of time. The residents of this
section arr not properly Esquimaux, but n
cross between this race aud the French
and Indians, who have come In for the
purpose OF hunting and dshing. and finally
settled down among the natives 10 live us
they DO aud share with them in the priya
tons which no other life affords. On an
momeler stands at about 40 degrees above.
while the temperature in the winter runs
as low as 60 degrees below zero aud will
average about 25 degrees below. Fish are
scarce and can be caught only in the riy-
eIs, Of which On the east there is only the
Great Whale. while on the west there are
the Hayes. Nelson. Churchill, Moore,
Albany, Necknisk. Main. and Abbitibbe
Seal abound In plenty, but are extremely
shy and hard for The natives to get al.
while porpose and walrus are equally
dil.cul, TO get hold of. Were il not for
The small fur bearing animals which are
about the shors the poor half breeds
would stand very good chance Of perish
ing by hunger as they can expect nothing
IN the way OF iavors from the Hudson Bay
companv's stores, u few OF which are along
the coa,t The natives live in little vii.
lagos composed Of from fifty 10 100
rade huts Each community has It's
place Of worship and lis church burial
ground. which is consocrated by the Mora
vinn missionaries, few of whom are to
b. found wandering about from Village 10
village from the eastern extent OF the set
tlements down as far rs Fort Churchill on
the west These faithful beloved men
expect no recampense for their services,
and II they did they wouldn't get il. for
tnere is not III all the country such thing
as money, the only exchange being in fish.
oil. or furs Whenever one Of tribe dies
lhe rest Of his tamilv-meaning by that
ile entire selllemt nt--stop work for tile
tiHy and prepare 10 bury himt II the set
ilcmcnt POSSESSES such thing rs a dinner
bell. and mosl Of them do, the oldest man
in he village goes about from hut to hut |
and rings the bell in front OF each until /
he occupants come out both big and H.
.ie and, falling into line. march after /
him. Then the circuit has btcn made. I
and big and little are ali collected, march /
Is nade for the kirote. as il Is called. the
village church. which consists of about an
acre Of ground simply enclosed by a wall /
Of stones near the middle of the commun-
ity Into this little field 60 the entire pop ]
ulace. and after chanting the virtues OF the I
dead Ter some hours the corpse is taken /
AWAY on a skin rack and covered with ice I
lnd snow in the common burial plot. The 4
rest Of the day is spent in rejoicing. aud 1
The next DAY. If the deceased was married. /
Bis letter half makes another choice. and /
Al the end Of week If an agreement be |
some TO- the dead is forgotten and the |
no longer sorowing ones begin lie over |
La.