Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-12
Explorations of the Abandoned Ones
Made by Professor Stein.
time SPENT IN BAFFIN'S BAY ISLANDS
Large Meteorite Successfully Trans
ported to This Country
IT'S WEIGHT EIGHTY TONS


north with Lieut.. Peary in the interest of
the Smithsonian Institution. Prof. Stein
was granted leave of absence from the sur
fvey in order to pursue his investigations in
regard to the abandoned Esquimau villages
in the islands in Bafiin's bay, off the west
coast of Greenland. He also made some
Investigations in regard to the botanical
character of the section which he visited,
and brought back with him number of
specimens which he gathered. That his
trip agreed with him is evidenced by the
fact that He gained sixteen pounds in flesh,
and was so greatly improved that his
friends scarcely recognized him on his re-
turn. He is enthusiastic in respect to his
entire outing, and wants to make trip
Eexts year to Ellesmere Land, reached by
the Peary expedition this year, but which
Prof. Stein did not visit, as he was landed
north of Wilcox Head, in order to pursue
his Investigations. He spent twenty-five
days on the two islands, in Baffin's bay,
which have not yet been named, with but
three EsquimauX as his companions. He
was put ashore there August. 10 and was
picked up again on the return trip of the
Hope, Lieut. Perry's vessel, September =. =.
Work. of Collecting FOSSILS.
Two members Of the staff of the Smith
sonian Institution were landed further
south, where they started to work to col
lect fossils. Several others made part or
the voyage, under the charge of Prof.
Porter of the Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology. This party was landed in Fro
bisher bay, and organized themselves into
a sort of exploring expedition. Members
of this party shot a polar bear, reindeer
and seal. There was bridal couple on
board Mr.. Hugh Lee and his wife, of Meri-
den, Conn.,, who were married short while
before the Hope sailed from Boston, July
<,f hair hnr
moon on the ship landing at Goodhaven.
As is known, Lieutenant Peary went to
Ellesmere Land to arrange for next years
expedition and also to get picture OF the
last camp. of the Greedy expedition near
Cape Sabine. One of the chief objects OF
the trip was to bring back the large me-
teorite of which Lieutenant Peary had
heard on a previous voyage, and which was
successfully transported to this country.
Professor Stein referred to the published
statement OF Second Engineer Knight of
the vessel that evidences of ctnnibalism
had been discovered at the Greedy camp.
Story of Cannibnlism.
He said:
Il knew Knight quite well. He was a
clever fellow when sober, but l know that
he was drinking when he was in Boston,
after reaching there the return trip
He is extremely reckless in such a coldi-
ton. 1 myself heard nothing of part of
flesh clinging to it as If it had been partly
eaten. I regard such thing physically
impossible. The camp there fourteen
years ago. While decay in that region is
much slower than it is here, il continues
just the same. In addition to this if a
part of tody had been left, as it was
stated 1t was found, the foxes there, of
which there are a number, would have
made way with it. / am convinced that
the occurrence had no foundation in fact"
Speaking of his investigations of the
graves of the Esquimaux who formerly in
habited the islands he visited, Professor
Stein said:
The deserted villages were inhabited by
the Esquimaux probably 200 years ago. /
secured number of the bones from the
graves, as 1 wished to make study of
them in particular, comparing them with
those of the race of the present day. 1 Sc
cured about a dozen skulls. which brought
back with me, and which will be meas
ured carefully. A notable characteristic of
the Esquimau skull is its length The
race has probably the longest heads Of any
in the world
No Complete Skeletons.
II was unable to obtain complete skele-
tons, as I found the bones in much dis
turbcd condition. They were in confused
masses. 1 found only two objects in the
graves which had belonged to the dead.
1t is their custom to bury mans possess
sions with him, but such long time had
elapsed since the burial had taken place
that they had disappeared. The two things
/ unearthed were piece of wood some
what decayed. wedge-shaped, with two
holes in it, and string of Feathers, evil
IDENTIFY intended for ornament.
THE graves were scattered among the
houses, which are constructed of turf and
stones. The graves are simply heaps of
stones piled up, with rectangular cavities
in them, In which the bodies are placed.
THE Esquimaux are extremely supersti-
tious, and the three 1 had taken to the is
lands with me from Upernavik could not
be induced to assist in the uncovering of
the bones. and 1 had to do all the work
myself. They merely looked on, but made
no attempt to prevent me from carrying on
my work. They did not know my inten-
tions in regard TO the matter when they
went with me and were doubtless surprised
when they discovered them.
These Esquimaux, by the way. were full
OF fun. and were continually joking one
another. though their fun was of the most
primitive character. If one would drop his
plate or spill something 1t would furnish
amusement for several minutes. One of
them dropped his gun overheard. 1t was
extremely funny to watch him when we
would approach a flock of ducks in our dory
to see him pull out his knife and shake 1t
at them in impotent fury.
lone of the trio, l was surprised to dis
cover. was quite familiar with number of
popular airs or tunes. which were popular
the Bali ano others as If he were ac-
customed to hearing them every day.
Cause of DISCRETION.
1.-THE villages had not been deserted on
account of any lack of game, I Think as
there are seals there-one Or two of which
my men shetland the large SEAL or us
suk' In the Esquimau language. The cause
thing. it attributable to the desire of
the Esquimaux to get where they could
trade with the Danes. as they began 20
open up negotiations with them, but the
place was little far north for their boats
to venture and the natives wished to be in
constant communication with them, recog-
nizing the advantages which would be
\ reaped from 1t.
II livel in tent, which had taken
along and subsisted on canned goods which
carried with me for that purpose. 1 had
o dory, with which made little expiora-
tons. There is plenty of vegetation in that
region. blneberries growing pientifuHy ON
the south mountain sides. There are dwarf
birch and willow trees and poppy flowers.
found only one dandelion on the island
The rocks are covered with sort of moss.
on which the reindeer fed. Its roots are in
the crevices. 1 found 1t perfectly easy TO
read until midnight. The air was SO brac-
Ing that found could do nearly twice as