Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-07-06
ESKIMO WEAPONS.
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ESKIMO WEAPONS.
Expert Use OF Them by the Natives OF
the Far North.
To the interesting collection OF
curios gathered by CAPTAINS Edwards
and McDermott, United States in
spectors of hulls and boilers. during
the Last few years, have lately been
added number Of weapons used by
the Eskilnos in the hunt and chase,
and other articles and relics, pre-
sented by various persons in the
Northwest and British Columbia.
The Eskimos' weapons were pre-
sented to the inspectors by the
widow Of the late Captain John NJ.
Olsen, of Astoria, master of the
sealer Polar Bear. in accordance with
request which he expressed before
| his death The most interesting of
these curios is spear with poi
soned arrow head. which is the most
effective Of all the weapons used by
| the inhabitants of the '.land of the
midnight sun. !" The spear entire is
wood, mounted with bone, in which
are finely carved all the fantastic de
| signs characteristic of the Eskimos
| in this line of work The arrow is
made in three pieces. two parts wood,
and the third which is the head, Of
bone dipped in poison. The three
pieces are held together by a leather
| throng, but with a slight movement
of the hand these can be disengaged,
| 1oo 20 hnol hnp IL cfp "a
animal, curved in its body in such
manner that it is impossible to Nis-
engage it without cutting the SIN.
| When the weapon is used on why&s,
seal or other water animal, a hoatS',
made OF the bladder of a seal, is at
| tached to the end of the spear so
| that the hunter may trace its course
and locate his game The Eskimos
have a peculiar way of shooting
this weapon. The hunter holds in
| his right hand, high above his head,
| short stick, or '.gun, with notch
near the top, where the end Of the
spear fits snugly. Taking aim at his
game he moves his right hand swift
| ly forward, propelling the spear
with lightning speed. and invariably
with unerring aim at the mark. In
stances have been recorded where
hunter brought down his game at
fifty yards, and one or two Alaska
story tellers, who have no fear OF
being discredited by the rising gent
Grafton, say that animals have been
slain at 100 yards distance.
But all agree that the average
Eskimo is marksman who never
fails to hit his mark, and who. when
so disposed, always provides plenty
for his family with his primitive
weapons. Sometimes to this spear
is attached a rope of. leather, one
end ofwhich is securely fastened to-
the hunters arm, so that he may
keep hold of his game. But this is
only done on short distance shots.
A weanon used in hunting birds is
a tripdd-shaped spear. This IS
thrownIin the same manner as the
poisoned spear. The hunter sneaks
withindistance Of his covey Of ptar-
migan and other birds and let's ay
with His weapon. If he be ttrkys "
three birds are the reward OF his
skill;jif not, one or two The i'm
spectors have weapons of the above
kinds OF several sizes, but all used
for the same purpose.
Among the other articles are belt
and pair of leggins finely orna-
mented with beads. made and worn
by tie Eskimos. and which they sell
to clrio seekers for $25; also water
bag made of sealskin. a lariat, and
several varieties OF the ,well-known
arboon.
Next to the weapons, the skull of
q Palouse Indian woman commands
attention for several reasons. The
priicipal one is because hel. skull is
shaped wholly unlike that Of the(
common Palouse, and it is thought
that she was person Of high degree
~ probably princess, or at least
woman of high birth. From the
earliest time in the recollection OF
the Oldest inhabitant who is ,stiIlin I
e4istence-the Palouse Indians have
continued the habit of their fore
f.thers of fattening the rear part Of
the Uranium of their female children
If low birth. This was done so they
might be distinguished from the high
born natives This woman had full
back head, but a low and retreating
forhead.