The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-05
GROESUS 0F
IHE ESKIMO
KOr-ko-ya's Vast Fortunes at
Forbisher Bay.
LIVES IN OLD SHANTY
Something More of the Eskimo
millionaire"

Upon Frobisher Bay. on the eastern
shore Of Baffin Land, frequented only By
whalers and wairus hunters, lives Kor-
ko-ya, the richest Eskimo in the world.
Affluence is relative term largely modi-
fed by environment and the New York
plutocrat would be as helpless, despite
all his means, If dropped in Frob.sher
Bay as would Kor-ko-ya If transplsnted
10 Fifth avenue
OF late years the Eskimo millionaire"
has been acquiring the luxuries OF civih-
zailon- TWO summers ago he placed a
window in his house. With an advance
that means an ordinary Eskimo methods
may be understood by recoliecting that
the average 'Innuit their own name
lives in a snow house in winter and In a
tent during the summer. Kor-ko-ya's
house is built out OF wooden planks. the
wreckaSe Of ships cast away IN that peril
Gus quarter, and in-civilized chimes a man
would not lodge cattle in IL. But II Is
as a metropolitan mansion TO the habita-
tons Of his neighboTs. A year or SO ago
he added an oil lamp TO his poss sssions,
and the last season a whaler brought
him up a stove. His progressive tenden-
cies are nov the subject OF discussion
among seasoned whalenen in half dozen
ports, and 1t is said he is 10 have a table
next year
The Eskimos are anything but thrifty.
Saving Is an unknown art with them.
They will gorge themselves with food to-
day If they kill seal. though they may
starve tomorrow. II is a tribal custom
also to divide the spoils Of the chase with
the unlucky. just as IL is. to exchange
wives and therefore, they take what the
fates provide in the matter OF food and
clothing and no man worries himself
Kor-ko-ya is. however. a man apart;
the exception that proves the rule. He
is sixty-one years old. having first seen
the light in a little native village north
Of the present Danish township of Julian
shaab in West Greenland. He left his
home when young. joining a whaler for
a cruise. and crossed Bafin Bay to the
tribes there, with whom he thenceforward
made his home. They were rated as seal
hunters, and his instincts turning that
way also he speedily distinguished him
self. He was gifted with qualities unique
among the Eskimos.
He was a keen trader as well as an ex-
pert hunter. and he bought from his
neighbors and sold 10 The whalsmen. BY
the time he was twenty he was a leader
in the tribe and his 'Igias' its hub. and
five years later he was the undisputed
head of the little community. which he
has since made the largest and most In
huential in all the Balm region.
His wealth has now grown to great
proportions, the region and materials con-
sdered. He has probably not dollar bill
or a half-eagie In his possession, for
money would be of no use to him. But
he has enough ard to spare OF every
thing essential TO existence in that desc
late land. He owns no fewer that ten
kayaks canoes for mem. and sixty bone
tipped double bladed paddles. He also
owns four oomeaks (women's boats. with
thirty single-bladed paddles for their pro-
pulsIon. His stock OF harpoons lances
and walrus hide ropes is both large and
perfect, and he is the admiral OF his own
feet. He and his allies killed the past
season over sixty walruses and his stock
OF blubber for the winter consisted Of
seventy-two iIsks or black logs. weighing
about 100 pounds each. Besides he bar
tered as much more 70 the whalemen
with hides and tusks and in part pay
ment received the stove above mentioned.
For the chase on land he has forty
dogs, ali crossed with the Nswfoundlsnd
breed, which makes them much better
and Juicy II they have to be eaten. as
often happens through ill-succe.s IN a
deer hunt There are sixty komeitss.
which these dogs draw, the siedges BE-
ing used 20 convey rations or the out
ward trip and the deer meat and hides
oning home
In his sod-covered this or shorehouses
are piled large quantities OF wslrIs hides
and tusks whalebons. narvhal ivory.
reindeer and caribou skins and antIsrs.
sealers and all the other products OF the
region. Though he sells large quantities
OF these 20 the whaienen every summer.
he still has enough % keep him IN plenty
for some years. when he IS No longer able
20 follow the chase or manage his kayak.
II is in this thai his thrift Is most re-
uarkabie. for while some Of bis brethren,
fakfrg pattern by him. have gathered TO-
gether some property ss STAY for Oh
age. 70 IS the extent OF his possessions
which has earned min distinction and
made him an T-failing topic - Interest
among whaIernen and explorer
II 4. however. IN wives that he - con-
s.6~red richest Re has 70 less thar ;en
- ~ - 49,, rzr h. Sfrro -~saA
without the Formally of divorce. ard
transferred - other members ~ tire trihs
n exchange for desirable members OF
TIER feminine PRIORITY. The Eskirno ~orz-
a. -uust be s.roug - 3sv snd persist
s-tIv f-@ustrio1s. fo- re archaic n1sfroc
% teepsaz skin garment, Soft AID pi;2sie
Is for me women % cke= - sslrs al
ove-. from tine &C tsrne. TITS constant
r,-scsfcs Gives the women AVS srd te@fh
s;rvrx enough % bite rleces ct e IN
RATS vfBch thsv Viu otter Do G. soarc
the -eaie-s. beng given a. s11fy Pre-
serve czn. y they VIII bi,s fragnsnt ozt
% TIE ID
Kor-ko-yz. ttlcrrh- pass his ssrtsets
year. IS stu sturdy and active. he boards
eve-~ ship that eass-r rs to-nsin. for
n - king n Sacs y u0t = thsorT. ard
his csrhaI-f-g - - clos- a-St shrsve IA
eve-. He gets guns ard snnnzunis;on f7-
ter hunting sroz and sre<i fer lszce
,ssas- ard ko-aetfx rzrz@-s art al The
.rsarnpery r-ate-tsi Which taxes is> 49,
o, nor. costly f-sppsrses - u sage
r-sna- Re IL a. Interesting ssht-ct So-
~ zh.le-rea ard traders .azc thaf Il
~ re 1sr. % IS procuring 4 store hAs