The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-08

chewer spits the oil from time 10 time
into a receptacle provided. 1t was this
practice, misunderstood by early travellers,
which gave rise to the reports of enor-
nous consumption of oil by these north
IN people
IL is now claimed that they eat little
more fat and oil than other races, though
their diet is chiefly meat the year round.
They are extremely fond of wheat bread
and bareback and a present of these pro-
ducts of our kitchens is received with
the same relish and eagerness that our
youngsters bestow on the daintiest sweet
cakes or bon-bons. Ia must certainly be
a great relief after a long and steady
diet of seal. When the warmer days of
spring arrive both the snow and the
earth iglu grow damp and even wet, the
low entrance passages of their houses fill
with water. Then they are abandoned
for the summer and the tupik, or tent Is
erected This is made of poles covered
with skins, but in these latter days In
the Alaska region canvas tents OF the
wall" pattern. obtained by trade are
largely used
These are comfortable and warm es-
pceially when the sun is shining. The
interior then is extrAnely pleasant.
mat of grasses or PUSHES is spread on
the ground and the family sit or lounge
about enjoying life some perhaps en-
gagged in sewing or boot or basket max
ing. Their boots are waterproof and are
preferred by many miners to our rubber
boots because of their lightness and du-
rability Their baskets are made from
long coils of grasses about as thick as
ones finger. and held together by cross
weaving with smaller strands. The tents
and houses are always near the shore.
The boats, therefore, lie near by, and
they are of Two kinds. the umiak. or large
travelling boat. capable of taking TWO or
three families or thirty TO forty persons,
with ease; and the kayak or hunting ca
noe, which USUALLY is made for one person
only. Both these craft are made from
slender poles anj walrus hide, and for in
genuity of construction they will compare
fJVorably with any boot in the world. The
Kayak is light as a feather and, urged
forward by the tkhiul paddle, seems 10
skim the water more like bird than
boat AS It is entirely covered over OK.
copting small hatchwsy, in which the
occupant sits, it can be launched In
stormy weather and will ride through
heavy seas. An apron is so arranged
that Il can be securely tied around the
waist Of the navigator and II Is then an
impossibjlity for water to find an entrance.
In case OF a capsize the native simply
rights blmseif again by means Of his pad
die. and the Norton Sound Eskimo turn
over and come up on the other side Just
as a matter of amusement the double
bladed paddle being the prime Importance
In the execution OF this feat. When 1t is
stormy two or three men will sometimes
take UP the kayak and its occupant and
toss them beyond the breakers. BY the
Russians the kayak was called a b1idarka,
and the larger boat, the umiak, baidar.
Eskimo Navigation.
The Eskimo travel considerably dis
tances In the umiak, which Is htteed
with a sail, and some from the Siberian
side Of the strait come over to Port Clar-
ence and the shores down TO Cape Nome
for the purpose OF trading. The Siberian