The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1904-12-31

VIC square Hlllt. VII lllC Sdilie
basis he also estimates that Alaska
will afford pasture for 100000
head OF deer.
The first practical test of the
endurance and travelling qualities
of the reindeer imported to Alas
ka was male by S lpt w. A.
Kjellmann of the Teller Reindeer
Station who, leaving Port Clarence
in the middle of December, 1896,
travelled southwark to Kuskokwim
River, about 1000 miles distant,
and returned to the station April
25, having accomplished 1000 miles
over a rough, barren country in the
worst season of the year, the rein
deer obtaining their living from
the moss which they dug out from
under the snow. A more remark
able trip was that made to rescue
shipwrecked sailors at Point Bar
row. A herd of nearly 800 deer
were driven from Cape Prince of
Wales northward to point Barrow,
a distance of 800 miles to be used
for food to succor the whalers who
had been frozen in at that point
without sufficient provisions. That
the deer could be driven that dis
tance, through a bare, unpeopled
country during an arctic midwin-
ter, with the temperature from 25
to so degrees below zero, find their
own food, arrive safely at their
destination and there drop a large
number of healthy fawns is evidence
of the value of reindeer to people
who live in the arctics.
Reindeer vary much in size. An
abundant food supply is an impor-
tant factor in their development.
In some parts of Siberia the rein.
deer is much larger than those OF
Lapland. Some domestic deer in
that region stand 5 feet high, can
carry 200 pounds on their backs
and are quite generally used for
riding. In that portion of north
eastern Siberia which is contiguous
to the Sea of Okhotsk lives tribe
known as the "Tunguse people" :"
and their deer are of much larger
type than are found elsewhere. In
1901, Lieut.. Bertholf was sent to
Siberia via New York to St. Peters
burg and thence 5000 miles across
Russia and Siberia to his destina-
ton, to secure some of these
"Tunguse" reindeer. Describing
IneSe ueer, ne says:
"The Tunguse deer are certainly
magnificent animals, for they can
carry full-grown man several
miles through deep snow. In fact,
when we were sighted from their
camp, two Tunguse came out to
meet us riding deer that at times
sunk in the snow nearly to. their
shoulders. In winter, when sleds
can be used two of these deer easily
draw load of 600 or 700 pounds,
and when used as pack animals $50
pounds is considered the proper
pack"
After much trouble Lieut.. Bert
holt succeeded in purchasing 42S
head of these large deer, but owing
to the rough voyage ia of the deer
died, and only 254 were landed at
the Teller Reindeer Station.
The more intelligent Esquimos
of Alaska are brought to the Sta.
tion and properly taught to care
for the deer. A number of expert
Lapp reindeer men are employed
at the Station, who have the hand
ling of the deer, and also act as
teachers to the Esquinos. Bright
young Esquimos from the coast
villages are selected to learn the
art of breeding and handling the
deer. When capable of handling
them, the Government lends them
a small herd for five years, at the
end of which time they must re-
turn IN the Government a lilo