The Portland daily press., 1897-02-04
THE INNUITS.
PeculiarIties of Our Northern Most
Fellow Citizens.

Their Name Signifies That They Are the
People-Eskimos in Derision-Their
Dress and Homes-A Disastrous Spree.
(From the Alaska News.)
The Innuit race of people, commonly
ard also corruptly called Eskimos oo-
eupy almost the entire coast line OF Alas
la, with tho numerous outlying Islands,
from the boundary line westward along
the arctic coast to BebriBg Straits,
thence soutwhard to the Alaska pen1n-
sula over the peninsula ami the Aleutien
Islands and eastward and southwark
along the coast to Mt. BIT. Elias, with
the exception of a comparatively small
territory at Cooks Inlet, and also at the
mouth of Copper River. at which points
the Tinneh trib of Indians from the in
terror have forced their way to the coast.
Living constantly Cd or near blie seasthey
from infancy nave not the sigh fear
of the dangers of the deep, and at an
early age become bold navigaSors and
skillad fishermen and sea hunters.
Tue word Innuib in their native tongue
signifies people, and as such is used by
them to designate those of their own race
as our people. Eskimo is a word of re-
proach, and has been given them by their
neighbors, the term meaning "raw feh
eaters. The Innnits of Alaska are
Ping sically much superior to those in
habiting the eastern side Of the continent
in Greenland and Labrador. They are
nd Y mn mo
lang age, though each locality and often
each village from the Atlantic to the
Pacific will possess dialect distinctlvely
it's own. Those of our territory are tall
and muscular, not few OF them being
six feet in height. They have small
black eyes, high chesk bones, large
mouths, thick lips, coarse brown hair,
and trssh yellow compilations. In many
instances men will be sesn with ii full
beard and mustache, and in some particu
lar families their manly beauty Is luf-
ther enhanced by wearing labret below
each corner of the mouth In hole cat
through the lower lip for the purpose.
They are q good naturedE people, always
smiling when spoken to, and are fond OF
dancing, running, jumping, and all attn
letic sports. Their most habitual dress
is the parka, a sort of coat extending TO
mails, the breasts of birds also being some
times used. They are not averse, how
ever, TO wearing civilized clothing, and
when access can be had to trader s store
they will exchange their furs for ready
made suits. Foot apparel is generally
made of either walrus skin or mooseh1de,
aud is the only material which will
effectually protect the feet from the in
tense cold of the long Arctic winters.
In lieu of socks a soft woollen rag OF
perhaps q tanned rabbit skin with the
fur left on is nrst wrapped around the
foot, which ia then inserted into the
boot, layer of straw first having been
placed inside for the foot to rest upon.
The boots are inl ersious to water, ann
while, through trampinR for hours over
soft snow or wading small creeks the
outside may become partially water
soaked, and finally as 1t grows colder
freeze so hard that they .have to 10
thawed out before they can be, removed,
ret the font will ordinarily remain warm
and comfortable. Such a condition could
rot posi- bly, exist with the heaviest and
warmest shoes made Of ordinary leather.
The abodes of these interesting people
have the outward appearance OF cir
cular mound of earth covered With grass
with small OPT ming at the tup for the
sscnpe of smoke. The entrance LIS through
small door and narrow hallway 20 the
main room, which varies from twelve to
twenty feet in diameter, and Is without
light or ventilation. Their diet consists
of the wild meat of the moose, reindeer.
bear, and small fur-beerihg animals;
also of fish. the white whale. the walruss
seal, and various water fowl, everything
being eaten in raw, uucooked state,
free from seasoning or any condiments
whatever. Those Tesding in the vicinity
Of Point Barrow and along the Arctic
coast have particular aversion to salt,
and while they will eat with reat relish
decayed fish, or will drink putr1d seal or
whale oil, yet mouthful OF the oholeess
oorned beef will be spit out with an ex-
ceedingly wry face. Men, women. and
even children of twelve years OF age arc
inveterate smokers, and will part with
their most valuable article for package
of tobacco If there should he no other
means Of securing supply OF the eovet-
ed weed. During the summer time they
travel constantly, following the fish and
seals 20 their spawning and breeding
grounds. AS cold weather approaches
they start homeward, and II the husband
Is good hunter and his wife provi'ient
helpmate they Will have succeeded in lay
ing in sufficient supply of food to last
them through the long; drsary winter:
Their religious belief is quite in
definite In general way they believe
in power that rewards the good and
Furnishes the bad, the latter class being
sent to different places of permanent
abode according to the sins and crimes
they have committed while alive. With
In the last few years missionaries of all
denominations have been actively engaged
in Christian work among them, and
churches, schools, and hospitals have
been scattered along the coast line for
nearly 1000 miles, At Point Barrow. the
extreme northern point Of land in the
United States, ana within twenty five
miles of being the northernmost land on
the continent, the Congregasiunalists
have established mission and school,
Erircnrauanc Rnrnan GathnIica. and