Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1895-04-05
THE FIRST MOSQUITO.
THE ALASKAN INDIANS HAVE A LEG
END ON THE SUBJECT.

TOfI8OI0 hApCEhChOGS WANAA e~A" . NeA>J |
Insects--Nfeans Employed as Protection
Against the Saw Bills.
The mosquito is universal pest. 1t
thrives In lands both frigid and tropical
From one end Of the earth to the other the
little tyrant persecutes mankind with his
vicious bite and tantalizing singing.
In Alaska during the summer time his
presence makes life almost intolerable-
even the tough old moose and caribou and
shaggy coated bears are driven from the
valleys and compelled to seek shelter on the
hilltops, which are swept clear OF insects by
the constant breeze.
When the Indian is resting In the woods,
he sets fire to the leaves and twigs around
him, making smudge which protects him
against the clouds of insects till he is ready
to shoulder his pack and take the trail
again. Before leaving he never thinks OF
extinguishing the fire he has made, and big
forest fires often result from this neglect.
A breeze will fan the smoldering embers
into flame, which will creep up into the
dry spruce and hemlock and rapidly spread
( till miles and miles OF timber lands are
burned to blackened stumps
| When travelling in Alaska, the white man
} smears his hands and face with bacon fat
/ and pine pitch as defense against mos
| quito bites, but even with this unsavory
precaution | have had my head SO swollen
| by the poisonous stinging that could not
wear my hat.
/ Sleep is simply impossible without the
/ shelter of q good mosquito net, and this
must be carefully tucked in, for all night
! long swarms OF mosquitoes will be creeping
| all over it. persstently seeking an entrance,
and IL there is weak spot in your fortih-
| cations it will be discovered. When by
| some accident man finds himself at the
mercy of these pests, he will attempt an es-
cape no matter what the risk.
remember that one time in Alaska
was hunting mountain sheep on some
heights which could only be reached by
dangerous climbing. Late in the evening
i found the darkness closing around me,
and was at an elevation of 5000 feet. At
all points steep stones reached down to the
1 valley below After searching for possi-
BILE means Of descent finally discovered
the head Of a small cascade, and decided
to follow this.
At first the little stream tumbled over
huge bowlders, among which carefully
made my way without accident, but then
I reached point where the waters flowed
over a smooth face Of rock which slanted
down abruptly for 80 feet. AS was hesi
tating about continuing my journey by
this dangerous route clouds OF mosquitoes
were swarming around me and attacking
me most numerically, and determined to
escape from them at all hazards.
Throwing my feet out in front Of me,
let myself slide down the steep rock. For
some distance sped along merrily, but |
was unable to stop myself, and upon reach
ing an uneven stretch Of stone was thrown
off my course and tumbled head over heels,
in which undignified position continued
for few yards until !, was flung broadside
onto hemlock stump which ST. pped my
further progress In anerse shsttel ing man
ner. "a s@ s%
The tohogganing experiment had been
unpleasant. IBns bruised and scratched
and stabbed Ill over WIN the spikes Of the
DEVILS cub plant but as sat Ii the smoke
of the campfre sl,zs night felt grateful
for having escaped the mosquitoes. even at
such cost
The Alaskan Indians have q legend re-
cording the origin Of mosquitoes
In the olden times there lived IN the
tuOW 9uEtCta tAttIEt4 dt2 Olu
giant, hide0us to behold and mighty in
strength. He lived with bis wife and three
big sons All were cannihals, and they
subsisted entirely upon human beings The
old father had snares and spiked pitfalls
on all the trails Leading u the interioFwith
which he caught the unNaFy traveller So
successful were the giants inhdmau efforts
that the powerful nations OF ChiIeat and
Goonennar dwindled down till aHIF a few
families were left
4 Eventually medicine man alADItious
for glory decided that be would piEhis nat
ural cunning and supernatural power
against the giants strength ana skill.
Armed with keen bladed knife and an as
sortment of wonder working slsAfms, the
doctor started or for The contest He ap.
preached the traps very carefully and then
purposeIy and with but slight Injury he
! caught himself In oleof the snafss and lay
, still as though dead Soon the old giant,
making his rounds In the morning, came
along, and seeing the sleek carcass of the
doctor chuckled to himself at his unusual
success, and putting the body into a sack
which he always carried for the purpose he
started home TO receive the congratulatory
? remarks of his family upon his fat catch
and upon his reaching his hut preparations
. were at once made to convert the doctor
5 into a dainty meal
II The smoidering embers Of the fire were
: blown into fame, and big cooking pots had
already been provided, when suddenly tht
doctor sprang to his feet and commenced tt
: cut and stab with his knife. So unexpected
was the attack and 80 dexterously was tht
0 weapon handled that in few minutes tn,
bloodthirsty old giant and his entire fam
: lily were lying dead. These cannibals hac
been very untidy and dirty, and everywhere
: the dust was lying inches thick. Thii
Y flew up In clouds. when the scrimmage tool
!, place with the medicine man, and every
particle turned into a mosquito when th'
1 giants died. .--E. J. Glave In Philadelphia
( Press. !.
I'll What to Read.
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