Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-10-08
THE NATIVES OF ALASKA.
The Esqnimaux Are Strange People
and Live In Holes In the Ground.


and Live In Holes In the Ground.
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 inhablt 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 a
spot south OF st. Michael's. The lls-
qutmaux do not lnhablt the interior at
all, that region being sacred to the In
dians, nut 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 unclvillzed tribes of Alaska and
from the expeditions of the bureau of
ethnology can be gathered a 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 a complexion that Is some.
times 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 hospitable.
The Esqulmaux live up the coast In
small villages and are not numerous,
being very unprollflc, MS are all na.
tions 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 Els.
quimaux. So valued Is brass kettle
that large one win 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 passage formed by a
hole In the top, which In severe wea.
ther Is covered with a bit of walrus
hide. The furniture consists of few
| tubs, n lamp which stands In the cor
ner. and the deerskin 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 frock
made of skins, with hood OF the same
the hands, complete the costume, the
dress of men and women differing but
little, as the latter wear trousers like
the male sex. The women are also at
tired In boots of sealskln. The won.
en- tattoo the face at marriageable
age, while n man does the same ms a
mark of distinction. the figures being
used to denote fine fisher of whales
This tattoolng Is done with needle
and thread smeared with SCOT or gun.
powder.
Another popularity Is the wearing
by the men of an ornament In the lip
fashioned Of ivory and known as the
labret. Bows and firearms are the
principal weapons and are used for
hunting the seal, deer walrus; while
fishing also forms a large part of their
industry. Horrible masks are used Ia
religious ceremonies, though the re
liglon 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 al
their own sweet will. Morality, as
known TO us, is something not under
stood by the Alaskan Esqulmaux.