Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-08-09
INTELLIGENT sAvAeEs.
The Eskimos Are Clever, Artistic an'
Inventive.

The Esklmos Are Clever, Artistic and
Inventive.
What Prof. Otis T. Mason thinks Of
the Eskimos, the largest population
of Alaska, and the most intelligent Of
It's natives, is well worth consideration.
Looking at these people from a purely
scientific point Of view, Prof. Mason
does them simple justice, no more no
less.
"The EslSimos people are know n
10 be the most intelligent and artistic
savage people on the face Of the globe.
They were carvers in ivory before any
white men ever went 10 that country.
Ever since the Russians went up
there, one hundred years ago,
and took them the file and bet
ter tools, they have been doing ex-
cellent carving of all kinds. Their
progress in art for one hundred years
has proved that they are an intelligent
and progressive race and are not fall
ing behind. They have stood compari-
son with that celebrated people discov-
cred in the French caves who left re-
mains in bone carving, and also the peo-
pie of the Somo valley.
"They have invented one Of the most
ingenious applications on the principle
of elasticity of which the world knows.
In this invention they have made use Of
driftwood. They take a small piece Of
wood about twelve inches long resem-
bling pipe stem, which Is quite brit
tie and win not bear bending. They
take sinew cord and run IL through and
back, so that every five inches they
have hitch. Thus IL bears a great
columnal strain. They can make bow
so strong that IL win send an arrow
into a whale. The invention is not
known anywhere else in the world.
Another Of their inventions deserves
mention. They have 10 ride in rickety
boats, and they can use but one hand.
The boatman has 10 hold the boat
steady in the water; not being able 10
use his elbow in the boat, he has in
vented device which he attaches TO
his arm. They have not borrowed that
idea from the white man, and the white
man never saw II until he saw them use
II. The white man has been learning
navigation from these Eskimos. They
did not borrow their ideas from the
Russians The lines Of their boats are
on the plan of modern racing cutters In
all except the center part, and II you
follow the design Of the boats you have
the modern racer. This boat is adapted
10 their conditions, and shows them 10
be an ingenious and progressive people.
"Their macintosh garment Is made
from the intestines OF the seal, which
are taken and sewed together with a
little thread of sinew. The work is
very extraordinary and is done by the
women. These women are so strong
that they would undertake 10 shoulder
a sack OF salt OF even a barrel OF -four.
They can carry two hundred pounds in
weight They get down on their knees
TO work With these deerskins. All the
work on the deer from the time IL Is
killed Is the work Of the women. The
men are enduring, and able 20 stand
any amount fatigue.
'The women are healthy and display
wonderful vigor OF limb and back.
They do not know they have backs.
Their e...Ndition is quite in contrast
with what we fin1a M ~ n our own homes.
They are hearty and healthy AZ sFery
respect My own studies have led me
to this conclusion, and ] have been
able TO compare them with other saw
ages, and find that they viii hold
their own with any aboriginal race on
the face OF earth, Kate Fields wash
inEton.