Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-06-09
b in pigeon Enellsh as chlet ren.

We were hungry. for we-hal had
nothing to eat all day except few dry
hard-tacks. My pardner, Ed, who had
experienced the natives OF Alaska, de-
clnei the invitation, and started the
Oh stove going TO make tea My curl
osity got the better Of my prudence.
however, and | followed the CT cf 10
his igioo, which was the Iargesf in
Whalen. and bigger than any | had
seen. Inside II resembled the others,
save it was more roomy and had more
sleeping rooms partidoned from the
main room by deer skins, Of which
there was an abundance. The roof
Was made OF pieces of thin wood lash
ed together with deer sinew and wal
rus skin rope. covered with walrus
slsin, and braced with supports extend
ed to thee floor
The natives who had towed us were
already in The hut, seated at one side,
busy feeding with both hands from al
platter on which a squaw was piling
pieces OF boiled seal meat
The chief spoke to her and she took
down a large deer skin and spread 1t
On the opposite side Of the door from
the Indians, Tor us to sit on. sat
down and crossed my legs, and Chief
TonasqWin sat alongside The squaw
then brought small goods box and
placed II in front OF us.
China cups and saucers, once shiny
but now spotted with dirty specks,
were produced from some mysterious
recess. and the squaw cleaned them
over by licking them with her tongue
ana rubbing them ON her deerskn
clothes They were shining enough
to suit her, and they were placed on
the box and a sugar bowl and can OF
eyaporated cream was added.
From hook suspended over the
Ere in the center she took dirty tea
cuplul Of boiling water. and cut from
hard brick handful OF Russian tea,
which she threw into the cup. The
mixture was then poured into dirty
| black teapot and the pot filed with
boiling water from the kettle.
After my cup and Tenasquin's had
| been filled she attended to the wants
OF the others ON the other side of the
| door, who were now ready for tea. A
| boy was sent for hardtacks and butter,
and | munched my hardtack and
| drank my tea, and 1t tasted as good
as many another meal | had eaten
with nicer surroundings. for hunger
sharpened my appetite and curiosity
occupied my mind
When the indians finished their
meal a great pile OF bones had accum-
\ dinJod on the wooden platter in front
OF them, and to these the squaw added
more from the pot by the side-ol the
fire. She then raised the platter to
her shoulder and started for the door,
calling the dogs as she went.
There was Il saurry from all drec-
lions. From within the igloo and with
out came the soft patter of the feet
and the short. eager barks of hungry
dogs Those inside rushed for the
door and in the melee two OF them
jumped over our goods box table, drop
ping hair and dust from the ground
floor on which they had been lying as
they went; but little things like that
lid not disturb the eqanamity OF Ten
asquin, nor did | let them trouble me.
Sticking in the wall on one side
! were a number OF cards with the
names OF various people who had Wis
tied Tenasquin. The only name rec
Ognized was that of Harry DeWindt,
The Englishman who Travelled over
land through Siberia, following the
route OF the proposed Paris-New YORK
railway DeWindt wlntered in Whalen
. in .p tsF1l f,,ts
though he does not accuse Tenasquin
of sayagery. has written much OF the
hardships he endured al the hands OF
other of the nearby natives He also
said he was nearly starving when he
was taken from Whalen by the vessel
which carried him 20 Nome.
His statements 40 not coincide with
the experience of the Siberian miners.
some OF whom were in the country be
fore he left At the time of his star
yation story, the Northeastern Sibe-
rlan Company had their agency store
at East Cape Station. only scant ten
MILES overland or twenty by boat from
Whalen,
There Is no recognized or establish
ed law in Siberia, so that Tenasquin's
chieltainship, which amounts to a
great deal among the natives. was Sc
cured and is maintained by his own
nrohity and natural pre-eminence. He
is an honest fair-minded. quaint old
man. who deals justly himself and
ries to persuade others to do the
same.
That many Of the natives are trench.
erous is certain, and white man with
out protection in Siberia would have
"A hard experience. He would. | Gn
persuaded, be accorded such hospital
ity as the natives could give. but their
wreJched food and general miserable
condition is such that few white men
could endure It, Then, If he made en-.
emies or had possessions coveted by
The natives he might be murdered by
some sl,uling unseen coward OF a
native And the swamps and tundra
would leave no sign, and the desola,e e
winds carry no message to his friends
OF his taking on, while his murderer
would probably so unmolested. Treach-
erous maybe, but savage, in the gen.
eral acceptance of the tenn, the ST
herian lGsquimauN-or, as he calls