The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-05-18
THE FIRST MOSQUITO.
THE ALASKAN INDIANS HAVE A Leg
END ON THE SUBJECT.

some Thrilling and Exceedingly Uneom-
Portable Experiences with the Pesky
Insecfs-Me2ns Employed ~ Protection
Against the Saw Bms-
The mosquito l. a universal pest II
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. /
be sets fire to the leaves and twigs around |
him, making a 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 singing that | could not
wear my hat.
Sleep is simply impossible without the
shelter OF a good mosquito net, and this
must be carefully tucked in, for all night
long swarms OF mosquitoes will be creeping
and il there is a weak spot in your fortif-
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
found the darkness closing around me,
and was at an elevation OF 1900 feet. At
all points steep stones reached down TO the
valley below. After searching for posi-
BILE means OF descent l finally discovered
the head Of a small cascade. and | decided
to follow this.
At first the little stream tumbled over
huge powders, among which ! carefully
made my way without accident, but then
I reached a point where the waters flowed
over a smooth face OF rock which slanted
down abruptly for so feet. AS was hest
tating about continuing my journey by
! this dangerous route clouds Of mosquitoes
were swarming around me and attacking
me most numerically. and determined 70
escape from them at all hazards
i Throwing my feet out in front Of me.
let myself slide down the steep rock Fol-
, some distance l sped along merrily. but
WAS unable TO stop myself. and upon reach
z ing an uneven stretch Of stone was thrown
of my course and tumbled head over heels
in which undignifed position l continued
D for few yards until was flung broadsid'
G onto a hemlock stump. which stopped m,
further progress in a nerve shattering man
= ner
5 The tobogganing experiment had beel
e unpleasant. was bruised and scratche,
II and stabbed all over with the spikes Of tn
/ DEVILS cub plant, but as | sat in the smok
Of the campfire that night l felt grateful
o., for having escaped the mosquitoes. even a
"a such a cost.
N The Alaskan Indians have legend II
Is cording the origin OF mosquitoes
r In the olden times there lived in tn
G snow buried mountains OF klecea an oil
< giant. hideous TO behold and mighty /
Is strength. He lived with his wife and thre
I'd big sons All were cannibals, and the
~ old father had snares and spiked pitfal
IN on all the trails leading to the interior wit
al which he caught the unwary traveller. :
successful were the giants inhuman effor
IN that the powerful nations of Chilcat an
as Goonennar dwindled down till only a fe
ne families were left.
e. Eventually a medicine man ambition
for glory decided that be would pit his ma
OF ural cunning and supernatural pow
against the giants strength and ski
n Armed with keen bladed knife and an a
nd sortment of wonder working charms, Il
"a doctor started of for the contest. He a
Ut preached the traps very carefully and th'
W purposely and with but slight injury
Is caught himself in one Of the snares and L
m still as though dead Soon the old giar
I'D making his rounds in the morning. car
ny along, and seeing the sleek carcass Of &
doctor chuckled to himself at his unusu
success, and putting the body into a sa
which he always carried for the purpose
nb- started home to receive the congratulate
ich remarks OF his family upon his fat cate
nto and upon his reaching his hut preparatio
lly. were at once made to convert the doci
fits into dainty meal
Ter, The smoldering embers Of the fire W,
My blown into flame, and big cooking pots
'os- already been provided. when suddenly |
can doctor sprang 70 his feet ana commenced
en- cut and stab with his knife. So unexpeci
ing was the attack and so dexterously was
so weapon handled that In a few minutes
bloodthirsty old giant and his entire ia
ON lily were lying dead These cannibals
she been very untidy and dirty. and everywh
sur the dust was lying inches thick I
ner- flew up in clouds when the scrimmage &c
ere, place with the medicine man, and ev
Of particle turned into a mosquito when
we'll giants died.-E. J. Glave in Philadelp
uck Press.
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y OF what to Read