The Portland daily press., 1897-10-23


live here" answered Mr.. Henson. "You
now they are members of the Arctic
Highlanders, the most Northern tribe OF
their race. This man is Nootah," point
ing to the Oldest In the party" "He Is
the son of the Chief Koolootoonah, who
in 1853 plotted to murder DR.. Hayes and
his party. Nootah is the head of this
little band you see here. The woman ls
his wife and this their little daughter.
This man. pointing to the Eskimo with
the fattest face and therefore the most
Misunderstanding, sis Kessuh, and the lit
tie boy is his son. Kessuh is more in
love with you than any of the others
He asked stme when you came in If you
were Mr.. Wallace's wife. Every time Mr.
Wallace brings good-looking woman IN
here he is crazy until he finds that she Is
not bound by marriage. He wants 20
know if you will go back as his wife.
"A proposall'' exclaimed the young
woman. ga palmist said l would have
one.'
"Kessuh is chief of his tribe" con-
tlnued Mr.. Henson ''This other young
man Is Weestakupsi, comrade of mis-.
Aessuh approached the young woman
ana stood close to her. He looked at her
from head to foot and then said what
sounded like mill dam breaking loose
Henson laughed.
What Is 1t he is saying?' asked the:
young woman. 81 know it Is about me. "
He is saying that he is just as tall as
you and that although he is so near you
ne ne cannot understand what you say.
Ihat always puzzles them very much.
He says he longs to understand what you
say, and wants to now when you are COM
ing back.
IeH me how they pass the time,
urged the visitor, changing the subject.
They walk around the square, sit
mere and talk about home and the won
derful things they see here, and sleep
and eat, " replied the Interpreter
They put in the best part of their
time eating. This morning they began
to eat at O'Clock, and did not stop un-
til after IL. They will begin their sec
ond meal about l, and probably finish it
in time to take walk at s, and then
they have their supper. That Is not all.
Ihey eat between meals. What do they
eatH Beef and biscuit mainly. Some
times they boil their beef and again they
eat it raw, tearing it off with their teeth,
and it isn't necessary for it to be tender,
either. They don't care. In Boston they
all got sick on fruit and now they won't
touch It, | give them tea, and they put
i've or six Jumps of sugar in each cup.
They just drink it to get the sugar. +"
Rain began to fall, and soon regular
tresh-moving, gullys-washing shower was
OOlnlAS oONhs Liz ESkIulOS bGUOu
amazed. Soon their tongues loosened,
and little Meesney, peering up through
the iron grating. asked If somebody above
was washing down the deck When told
that the water came from the skies they
could not believe it, saying that it never
rained SO hard in their country.
is it true that these men fall instantly
IN love with every pretty woman that
comes in sight, and, after the manner of
the tribe to which they belong propose
matrinony'' asked the young woman.
Yes, it is" answered Mr.. Henson.
- KesSuh says he would like five or six
wives like you. He's wild young dog,
l m afraid. All of these men say that
the American men are no good, but that
the women are perfect. They know when
a person is good looking too, [ can tell
you. and they've got no use for an ugly
woman. They like full, round faces, not
long, thin ones, and if some of their
callers could understand how they guy
them anu make fun of them right to
their faces l guess we'd have a war
here.
MIR. Wallace took Meesney for drive
in the park on Sunday. The little chap
came back enthusiastic and told the 9TH
ers what fine time he'd had, and how
he dl owe the big dog, meaning the horse.
MIR. Wallace said he dropped the lines eY
cry time he met bioyclist to wave at
him. They went to o restaurant to get
the child some sandwiches, and man
with very large nose sat down at the
next table. Meesney began to laugh at
his nose. and to make comments about
it that amused Mr.. Wallace immensely.
But that didn't satisfy Meespey He
wanted the owner of the nose to know
that that member afforded him amuse-
ment, so he went through a pantomiIne
that the man could not misunderstood.
Get mad? No, he of the big nose roared,
and told the 10y he knew it was big and
ugly"
E'Come Meesney, = interrupted MIR. Wal
lace. "Let US go upstairs. We will take
him to the exhibit of things from his
own country that Lieut.. Peary brought
down last year." he said, turning to the
visitors.
The child put his hand confdingly into
that of the man and hoped and skipped
along by his side. When he came in
sight of the big cases of specimens he
was beside himself with joy. He capered
around and gave the name of each arti-
icle in his own language and then he
would try to illustrate the use they made
of it. When he came to the spears is face
lighted up still more. The floor was a
polar sea to him, and in front of him
was seal. Up, up he orept on the imag-
mary seal with an imaginary spear in
hlo iAtthds fsl1d ouCetiOi11AJ obl dSh es ioessA
blow. Then he turned to Mr.. Wallace
complacetly and said:
"That's the way we spear seals"
AS the party was going back to join
the others once more, Mr.. Wallace said:
"Ihis boy is a genuine boy. See how
he runs ahead and leaps down the steps
three at time. My boy, about the same
age. comes here, and they have fine times
playing marbles and ball together. The
Eskimos do not coddle their children,
and it was touching to see this little chap
the other day.
Three little children went down to see
him, two girls and boy. He kept
putting one little girls hand into that
the little boy and then he would put his
own arm around the waist of the other
little girl, which frightened her almost
out OF her wits. These people have taken
most kindly to SOAP" he went on, enter
Ing their room once more. ''They don't
use SO much on their persons, but they
are fond of making suds in the sink, and
when the soap is out they will not allow
me to come in here until go and bring
them more. Sing, Meesney," he urged.
Measnev obavpd and slIch singing as 1t