Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22
THE NATIVES OF ALASKA.
The Esquimaux Are Strange People
and Live In Holes In the 0rourd.

The Esquimaux Are a Strange People
and Live IN Holes IN the 0rourd.
The finding Of gold In Alaska and the
great rush thlther Of American fortune
hunters naturally attracts attention to
the strange natives Of that Icy region.
These are the numerous Esqulmaux,
who inhabit the shores Of Alaska from
Point Barrow, the highest point north,
to the land along the very top of AL
aska, and along the western coast TO O
spot south Of st. Michaers. The Es-
qulmanx do not inhablt the interior at
ell, that region being sacred TO the In
dlans. but content themselves with the
rocky shores and the food that comes
In the way Of fish and seals. Uncle
Sam has made an exhaustive study OF
these uncivillzcd tribes Of Alaska and
from tie expeditions Of the bureau Of
ethnology can be gathered complete
exposition Of their sad life amid the
SHOWS and dark, long winters of the
frozen north. These people are OF
medium height with heavy features,
hair black and straight, thick lips. dark
eyes and complexion that is some
tines light yellow and again very
brown after exposure TO the reflection
from the sun In spring. Unlike most
savage nations, they seem very gentle,
and though brave as to danger, are
peaceful and hospl,able.
The Esqulmaux live up the coast IN
small villages and are not numerous,
being very unprolific, as are all ma
lions living In cold countries. They
live by trading with the vessels which
come up every summer. these ships
bringing firearms, ammunition. beads
and tobacco. which are exchanged In
turn for the skins and furs OF the Es-
qulnaux. So valued is brass kettle
that n large one will bring three skins
of the wolverine. and three Of the black
fox In barter. For houses. they live in
snow huts. for temporary use. while
their winter residences are Of wood.
rudely built and covered with a high
mound of sod. SO that they might al
most be termed houses Of earth. They
are entered by IA passage formed by n
hole in the top. which In severe wea-
Their is covered with a bit Of walrus
hide. The furniture consists Of few
| tubs. lamp which stands In the cor
ner. and tile deerskln blankets. which
in the daytime are piled under a rude
bench. During the short summer
| months the natives live in tents made
of dressed skins.
| For clothing. fine. thin skins are used
In summer. heavier skins for work
clothes, while extra warm jackets OF
fur are for winter. Pants and fsock
| mede Of skins. with hood Of the same
and boots Of skin. mlttens OF skin on
the hands, complete the costume, the
dress Of men and women differing but
little, as the latter wear trousers Ike
the male sex The women are also at
| tired In boots OF sealskin. The wom-
en- tattoo the face Mt marriageable
| age. while a man does the same as q
| mark of distinction. the figures being
used to denote fine fisher of whales.
This tattooing Is done with a needle
aLd thread smeared with SCOT or gun.
| powder.
| Another peculiarly Is the wearing
by the men of an ornament In the lin
| fashioned OF ivory aud known as The
labret. Bows and firearms are tn.
| principal weapons and are used for
hunting the seal, deer. walrus; while
fishing also forms large part Of their
industry. Horrible masks are used In
religious ceremonies, though the re-
hgion of the country seems very in.
distinct and but fear of some kind OF
an evil spirit. Marriage is not regard
ed as a sacred institution. and wives
change from one husband to another at
their own sweet will Morality. as
known to US, is something NOT '.dder-
stood by the Alaska Esquimaux.