The San Francisco call., 1899-04-09
Special to The Sunday Call.

n T HEN the Arctic whaling fleet
~ I returned from the north last
NM season it brought word that
VI " Kor-ko-ya had placed a new
Il IL window in his house. AS
matter of news in ordinary
building circles this would
pass unnoticed, but to those who have
Travelled where the sun shines at midnight
the intelligence is extremely interesting.
For decade of years the growing opu-
lenCe Of Kor-ko-ya, otherwise known as
"the Eskimo millionaire, has been
watched with great curiosity by the
whalers and the occasional explorer. He
has long been known as a thrifty man,
as thrift goes in the Arctic regions, but
it is only of late that his fortune has as
sumed really wonderful proportions.
1t is said that he now owns no fewer
than seven kayaks and a full score of
bone-tipped double-bladed paddles. His
stock of blubber for the winter Of 1898
consisted of over sixty parcels weigh
ing 100 pounds each. In addition to this
he sold to traders half as many, receiv-
ing in part payment the new window al
ready mentioned.
His thirty dogs are all crossed with tho
Newfoundland breed. which makes them
especially valuable for hauling purposes.
and of a better flavor as an article of
diet In time of famine OF sealskins, fox
skins. bearskins. raw eiderdown feathers.
whalebone, narwhal ivory and reindeer
hides he has enough 10 keep him in plenty
for some years.
Ten Strong Jawed Wives.
But it is in wives that he is considered
richest. In his home igloo up on the
western shore of Baffin Bay he has ten,
all particularly strong of jaw, and able
to keep Kor- r-ko-ya's stock of clothing ever
<,p+ -,
will be understood when the Eskimo Gus.
tom of chewing skins is understood.
Up in the polar circle where a mans
blood freezes and parts of him drop off
at the touch of the icy blast, it is
difficult matter to lceep the untanned
skins from hardening and cracking.
There is only one process known to the
Eskimo that of chewing. 1t is neces-
sary to perform this operation every
two or three months, and 1t is a part of
the wives duties. 1t is for that reason
that an Eskimo selects his future help
mates, not for beauty, comeliness of fig
ure, nor for gentleness Of disposition, but
for the size of their teeth and the
strength of their jaws.
Wives are bought, sold and exchanged
among the Eskimo The price 1uCtuates
like that of wheat or corn, or stocks
on Wall street A father with a growing
daughter VIII be approached Dy nelgh-
Dor and offered one, two or three dogs
for her, according to her maxillary pow
ers. Sometimes blue foxskin or a dozen
strips of blubber may enter into the bar
gain. but dogs are generally the factor
used.
From this it can be seen that Kor-
ko-ya's plurality of wives is considered
proof of his wealth among his friends.
There are other evidences which will be
described later.
Kor-ko-ya was born in 1S41 at a small
native settlement a short distance north
of what is now the Danish town of
Julianshaab, in Greenland. He left his
home at an early age and crossed Baf-
fin Bay making his igloo with another
tribo famous as hunters of seal. He
was known to some Of the early expior-
ers. and acted as head guide and chief
teamsman to them.
He attracted notice even in his teens
as a thrifty youth. and from that time
became prominent among the Eskimo.
Saving is an unknown art to the Indians
of the Arctic regions. and il is seldom
they accumulate enough even to last them