The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-07-15
THE GREAT MAN OF GREENLAND.


SoAAASsAAAhS A0O0s eAO A<SAsAAsV @~@~@sS.
aire. Kor-ko-ya."
When the Arctic whaling feet re-
turned from the north last season il
brought word that Kor-ko-ya had
placed a new window In his house. As
a matter Of news in ordinary building
circles this would pass unnoticed, but
to those who have travelled where the
sun shines ct midnight the intelligence
is extremely interesting.
For decade Of years the growing
opulence of Kor-ko-ya, otherwise
known as ''the Eskimo millionaire, -
has been watched with great curiosity
by the whalers and the occasional ex.
plorer. He has long been known as a
thrifty man, as thrift goes in the Arc
tic regions, but it is only of late that
his fortune has assumed really won
derful proportions.
It is said that lie now'owns no fewer
than seven kayaks and full twoscore
of bone-tipped double-bladed paddles.
His stock of blubber for.the winter of
1878 consisted of over sixty parcels
weighing 100 pounds each. In ad-
dition to this he sold to, traders half
as many, receiving in part payment the
new window already mentioned.
His thirty dogs are all crossed with
the Newfoundland breed, which makes
them especially valuable for hauling
purposes, and OF better flavor as an
article of diet in time Of famine. OF
sealskins, foxskins, bearskins, raw
eiderdown feathers, whalebone, mar
whal ivory and reindeer hides he has
enough to keep him in plenty for some
years.
Butit is in wives that he is consid-
cred richest. In his home igloo up on
the western shore of Bafin Bay he has
ten, all particularly strong Of jaw, and
able to keep Kor-ko-ya's stock of cloth.
ing ever soft and pliable. The impor-
tance of this will be understood when
the Eskimo custom of chewing skins
is understood.
Kor-ko-ya was born in 1S41. at a
small native settlement short dis
lance north of what is now the Danish
town of JulianeLaab, in Greenland.
He left his home at an early age and
crossed Baffin Bay, making his igloo
with another tribe famous as hunters
Of seal. He was known to some OF the
early explorers and acted as head guide
and chief teamsman to them.
He attracted notice even in his teens
as thrifty youth, and from that time
became prominent among the Eskimo.
Saving is an unknown art to the In.
dams of the Arctic regions, and it is
seldom they accumulate enough to last
them throughout the long winter. Ger.
tain rules of the tribes make it incum-
bent upon them to help their needy
neighbors. and for that reason the in
dividual members neglect to lay by.
stores for the morrow.
Kor-ko-ya became an exception. He
was skilful hunter and o shrewd
trader. and, before he was twenty, his
main igloo became the centre of the
village in regard to fittings aud at
tractiveness. The tribe to which he
had attached himself was one of the
largest and most influential OF that part
of the country, and by his twenty fifth
year Kor-ko-ya was recognized as the
head of it. It is said that men came
200 miles to consult him in affairs oil
the chase and trade.
He became well-known to the hardy
whslers, and to-day his doings form a
subject Of comment aud interest in
more than one country. And that is
why the news that he had placed an
other window in his house was carried
over 1000 miles of ice and water, to be
discussed over pipes and and ale in q
dozen civilized seaports.-New York
Sun.