The herald., 1894-06-17
TIE EsOUIMAU.

10 Ia Clever and Artistic Well as In-
v9ns,vc.
From Kate Fields Washington.
What Prof. OTIS I. Mason thinks Of
che Esquimaux, the largest population
Of Alaska and the most intelligent OF its
natives, is we'll worth consideration.
Looking at these people from q purely
cientific point of view, Prof. Mason
toes them simple justice, no more nor
cas-.
THE Esqumau people are known to
% the most intelligent and artistic saw
.ge people on the face Of the globe.
lhey were carvers in ivory before any
white man ever went to that country.
Ever since the Russians went up there,
100 years ago, and took them the file
nd better tools, they have been doing
xcellent carving OF all kinds.
their progress in art for 100
ears has proved that they are
IN intelligent and progressive race
md are not falling behind. They have
TODD comparison with that celebrated
,sople discovered in the French caves
gho left remains in bone carving, and
.lso the people of the Some valley. They
rave invented one OF the most ingsnius
applications of the principle of elasticity
which the world knows. In this in
;ention they have made use of drift
good. They take small piece OF wood
about IL inches leng, like pipe stem.
which is quite brittle and will not bear
,ending. They take ainew cord and run
through and back, 80 that every FIVE
inches they have hitch. Thus it bears
great columnal strain. They can
make bow SO strong that it will send
IN arrow into a whale. Tho invention
not known anywhere else in the world.
Another of their inventions deserves
mention. They have to ride IN rickety
roats, and they can use but one hand.
The boatman has to hold the boat
tesdy in the water, and not being able
10 use his elbow in the boat he has
invented device which he attaches to
lis arm. They have not borrowed
hat idea from the white man,
md the white man never saw it until
ne saw them useit. The white man has
,een learning navigation from these Es-
auimaux. They did not borrow their
IDEAS from the Russians. The lines of
heir boats are on the plan of modern
-acing cutters in all except the center
part; and if you follow the design Of
heir boats you have the modern racer.
This boat is adapted to their conditions,
nd shows them to be an ingenious and
progressive people.
Their macintosh garment ia made
rom the intestiRse of the seal, which
IRE taken and sewed together VITA
title thread of sinew. The work is very
extraordinary aud is done by the women.
These women are 30 strong that they
would undertake to shoulder a sack OF
alt or even a barrel of -four. They
can carry 200 pounds in weight. They
,et down ON their knees to work with
these deer skins. All the work on the
iesr, from the time it is killed, is the
work of the women. The men are endur-
ing and able to stand any amount Of
fatigue. the women are healthy and
lisplsy wonderful vigor of limb and
back. They do not know they have
aoks. Their condition is quite ID con.
frsst with what we find in eur own
homes. They are hearty and healthy in
svery respect. Ny own studies have led
me to this conclusion, and | have been
.ble to compare them with other saw
sSes, the Polynesians and the Africans,
nd find that they will hold their own
With any aboriginal race On the lace of
5h0 oRrGh'