Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-24
FEAST OF THE WHALE
IAN ESKIMO BANQUET THAT MAY
LAST A WHOLE DAY.

: 1heNaffyes of Arctic Alaska After
the Hunting Season Is Over - The
! Return of the Fleet to Shore.
: Writing of the Industrial and social
methods and customs Of the Eskfmos
OF arctic Alaska, Edward 4. McIlhen-
ny, in the Century, says:
The principal occupation of these
Eskimcs (of arctic Alaska) during the
spring Is the hunting of the bow head
whale In the leads, or open water, and
among the foe ice of the Arctic ocean.
The taking of whale IS always
time of great rejoicing with these peo-
pie, for it means not only an abun-
dance of food and fuel, but a large
amount Of valuable trading material.
After the whaling season is over the
boats which have been used in the
chase are gathered on the leads be
tween the pack and shore ice, which
is often some miles from shore, at the
foot OF some road that has been cut
Through the rough ice from the land
TO the water. The most successful
boats crew, with their umiak "a whal-
ing boat covered with SkinsJ, takes the
lead, followed by the other boats in the
order of their success. The harpoons,
floats, paddles and everything pertain
ing TO the chase Of the whale are
placed in their respective positions.
The umiak Is then placed on a fat
ivory runnered sled and dashed firmly
in place The owner, who is called
omelic Cheadman), stands on the ice
at the right hand side Of the bow; the
boat steerer stands at the stern and
the paddlers stand at their respective
places along the sides Of the boat
When all g ready the Omelic gives the
word to 90 forward, and each of the
crew slips over his shoulder a broad
breast strap of sealskin, which is at
tached to short line made fast to
the thwarts of the boat. When all IS
ready the boat is pulled forward a few
lengths and the next boat in order goes
through the same form, moving on in
its turn, until all the umiaks are strung
out in a long line on the grounded ice
ready for their return TO land.
At a signal from the head boat all
move forward, chanting weird songs
of the goodness and power of the
whale, for one Of the superstitions OF
these people is that whenever working
on any object to be used in whaling or
doing anything connected with whaling
they must constantly eXtOl the merits
of this great animal.
Long before the boats reach shore
the entire population left in the vii
lage-men, women. children and dogs
congregate on the beach to welcome
the home Corners. When the first boat
nears land 1t is brought to a halt few
feet from the shore line. and its tails
man, which Is always carried in little
pouch in the bow and may be a VOLTS
head, the head Of a raven, iron pyrites
or any odd thing, IS lifted out by the
omelic and held in his right hand to-
ward the shore, where stands the chief
medicine man of the tribe, who pOurS
over II a little fresh water to refresh it
and thank It for the benefits given, II
the boat has secured whale, or, If the
boat has not been lucky, to appease any
slight that may have been put upon
the talisman, In the hope that It will
give them better luck in the future.
After reaching shore a day or posi-
bly, two may be given for preparation,
and then the great feast begins. Each
successful boat owner. beginning with
the one whose boat secured the most
whales, gives a feast, to which he in
vltes all the members of the tribe and
any other people who may be in the
village. First q wind break of uni
axis sails or skins IS built to act as
shelter against the chilly blasts of the
polar winds 1t is placed in the form
of u large circle if enough material can
be secured. in the center of which q
walrus hide is placed on the ground,
and to its four corners are tied long
ropes. which are passed over tripods
placed about twenty-five feet from the
skin. The ends OF the ropes are then
drawn tight and made fast with stout
stakes driven into the ground, thus
raising the skin about four feet. The
skin thus becomes a platform some
eight or ten feet square. which serves
as q sort Of movable stage on which
the young women dance.
The feast usually begins at the time
when the sun reaches q due western
point, about o'clock IN the afternoon,
for during the eighty days of summer
at Otkeavic the sun never sets, and,
being without tlmepIeces, the Eskimos
mark their time by the position OF the
sun while it is visible and by the moon
and stars when the sun has gone for
the long arctic night. These feasts
sometimes last twenty-four hours.