The Columbus journal., 1904-10-05
FEAST OFTHE WHALE.
AN ESKIMO, BANQUET THAT MAY
LAST A WHOLE pAX.

o.. -- c.
Sncsdent 81 che social Life AmenE
the Natives ~ Arctic Alaska After
the saentin1 sense. h :Over-The
Return u the Fleet to shore.
Writing Of the industrial and social
methods and customs OF the EskimOs
Of arctic Alaska, Edward A. NcIlhen-
ny. in the Century, says:
The principal occupation Of these
EsllimOs tOf arctic Alaska) during the
Spring is the hunting of the bow head
~haFe in tie leads, or open water. and
among th.. foe ice Of tho Arctic ocean.
The taking Of . whale is always a
time Of great rejoicing With these PeO-
PIE. for il means not only an abun-
dance Of food and fuel, but a large
aniount Of, valuable trading material.
After tie whaling season Il Over tie
boats which have been USED in the
chase are gathered On the teaNs be-
tween tire pack and shore ice. which
is often some miIcs from shore, ze the
through tho rough ice from tine land
10 the wafer. The most successful
boats CREW. with their umiak "a whal-
tns bsat covered with skins. fakes the
lead. followed by the other boats in the
order Of their success. The harrOOns.
floats. paddles and everything pertain
1ng 70 the chase Of the whale are
placed In their respective positions.
The uirink Is then placed Oh a nat
ivory runnereSi sled and dashed firmly
In piace. The owner. who Is called
omeiic theadman,. stands on the ice
nj the right hand side Of the bow: the
boat steerer stands ut the stern and
the paddlers stand At their respective
places along. the sides Of the boat
When al . ready the oneaic gives the
word To go forward, and each ~ the
crew slips over his shoulder a broad
breast strap Of s.aisIin. which Is At
iachesf 10 a short line made fast to
the thwarts OF the boat When all is
ready tie boat is pulled forward u few
lengths and the next i,Oat In order gOes
through the same form. moving on In
it's turn. until all the umiaks are strung |
out iB i lon: line On the grounded Ice .
ready for their return to land.
At II signal from the head boat all |
move forward, chanting weird songs
whale. for one Of the superstitiOls Of !
these people II that whenever working |
any object 10 I've used Ia whaling "
doing anything connected With whaling
they siust constantly eXtcl the merits
OF this great animal.
Long before the boats reach shore
the entire population left in the vii
laee- men, women. children and dogs
c"nrr.gatc OH the beach to welcome
the huIae Corners. when the frSt beat
hears iand it Is drought to a haAt a few
feet from the shore line. and its tails
lnan. which IL always carried In q little
Ioucl, IL the bow ard may he . Wells
head. the head Of Q raven iron pyrites
or any odd thing. Is lifted out by the
ofnsiic and held In his right hand TO-
ward the shore, where stands the chief
medicine man Of the tribe. who p00rs
over 1t a little fresh water to refresh II
and tl!al.k il FOR the benefits given, II
boat has secured 4 whale, or. II the
boat lrss not Lsen lucky. to appcaSc any
that may have teen put upon
he taiisman. in the hope THAI 1t will
give them beticr laoi in the future.
After reaching shore Il day or posi-
bly, two May bc given for preparation,
tifcm thr great feast beciAs. Each
successful boat owner, beginning with
he one. whose boat secured the most
whales, gives a feast, t. which lie in
;itss al the members Of the tribe aud
.ny Vther people. who may fe in the
First s wind break IL uni
lis. sails or skins l. built to act a. a
against the chilly blasts II the
wii.is. II Ia placed ia the form
If n barge circle II enough material can
hide is placed Oh the ground.
md to its fouT corners are tied long
'opeS. which are passed over tripods
gbcut twenty five feet from the
kin. The sn1s Of the ropes are then
iraWn tight and made fast with stout
takes driven Into the ground, thus
tile skin about four feet. The
Lin thus becomes q platform some
sr ten feet square. which serves
IS a sort OF movable stage Oh which
young wOnle dance.
Tic feast usually begins Mt the time I
ih.. sim reaches a due western
'..ut. about 4 o'clock In the afternoon.
or during the eighty days " summer
4 ptkcayic the SUN never sets. and.
'eiIS without timepieces. the Eskimos
aark their tine by the position of the |
an while il II visible and by the moon /:
stars when tire sun has III for I
hr long arctic night. These feasfs
oIleti,pcs last twenty four hours. !
Ne Sua0ke6. .
4 very pretty girl with q well de- a.,
Ip1si air .f Ln.AUrip.v h.se WAY nhnuf