Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-11-17
SOME FRUGAL DINNERS

In striking contrast to the joyous
and delicious Thanksgiving dinners of
American civilization are the frugal
repasts of the many thousands dwell
ling in remote and inhospitable parts
of the United States. The natives
who live on the coast OF Alaska have
n somewhat harder struggle for exist
ence than do their reindeer breeding
neighbors of the interior. All during
the year the former are forced to
wage a ceaselesS warfare upon the
whale, seal and walrus for subsist-
ence. In gathering their Thanksgiv-
ing repast or feast the efforts OF the
whole household are employed. In
November and all through the winter
hunting of the sea animals is mainly
carried on through holes in the ice.
Fish is obtained entirely in this man
ner. A young girl will sit on blocks
OF ice, covered with a few skins, all
day fishing, in tie face Of bitter
wind, with the temperature GO de-
grees below zero. In hunting the
seals young boys locate the openings
the purpose. The seals, as well as
the walruses. are compelled to fire.
quent these for occasional breathing
spells. Beside one of these assures
the hunter will watch for hours,
waiting for his prey. AS soon as the
ANNA! is heard blowing he quickly
plunges his harpoon down into the
Ill II; no
ed seal or walrus at once pulls strong
ly on the coil. but soon becomes eX-
hausted, and is easily killed and
drawn up on the ice.
The white whale, on account o. its
great amount of oil blubber. as we'll
as meat, is one of the choice food ami
mails. The expert and eager hunter,
when first he discovers one of these
whale holes, usually five miles or
more from shore, out on the ice foe,
rushes at once with the glad tidings
to his home. There is at once a great
Juror and excitement. The sledges
are made ready, and the wife-some-
times there are several-together
with all the available members OF the
family. dash over the ice pack 10 the
"blowhole.' Arriving on the scene.
harpoons and guns are utilized for
shooting and capturing the prey.
About every twelve or eighteen min.
utes the school of whale will arise to
blow, swimming the length Of the
hole, TO and fro. The breathing spells
only last about two seconds. Often
when the main rising occurs the hole
becomes so filed that the body of a
whale will be pushed two-thirds out
of the water and held in this position
for several seconds before going UNI
der again.
Awaiting these opportunities, the
natives aim for place just back of
the skull, the bullet breaking or dis
locating the spinal column. All killed
I'm this way float on the surface, and
are Immediately drawn upon the ice,
and either dragged or taken ashore
on a sledge. This work is repeated,
and sometimes as many as one hun
dred carcasses are obtained and
stored away for future use. Getting
one OF the big monsters ashore, which
means a royal feast. is a welcome tug
of war. which old and young lend
hand in
Walrus meat is the most highly
priced and appetizing OF all their ami
NAL diet. No feast, Thanksgiving or
otherwise, is considered complete
without the head, which is thought TO
be the most delicious part The most
welcome son OF the household is the
one seen approaching the camp with
n large walrus head on his back So
tempting Is this flesh that II is cut of
in slices and eaten raw.
Life among the reindeer breeders
of the interior is a triile easier and
more assured than that of the coast
people. but the diet is wellnigh as
poor and scanty, the reindeer furnish