Douglas Island news. [volume] (Douglas City, Alaska) 1898-1921, 1905-08-16
MAN MADE FROM CHEWING CUM

MAN MADE FROM CHEWING GUM
The Arctic Eskimo have their tradi-
ton of the origion of man, much the
same as has the Caucasion: and his
tales of provinces, in battle, his sagas
relating the past glories of what is now
an almost extinct race, are as thrilling
as some of those which tell of the won
drous deeds OF Odin and Thor, or of
those Grecian ancients whose deeds of
daring are yet preserved in prose
and verse.
DR.. John B. briggs, the medical mis-
sionary at Point Home, who has lived
among the Arctic natives almost con-
tinuously for 10 years, has gathered
world of native folklore, including
traditions and sagas of the people,
which have been handed down from
father to son for hundreds Of years.
These be has embodied in book which
is now in the publishers hands in New
York. DR.. briggs recently returned
from the eastern states, where he spent
the past winter after an absence in the
Arctic of nine years. He is now once
more uorthbouud to his home at Point
Hope.
DR.. briggs believes that man had his
origin within what is now the Arctic
circle. Legends and traditions of the
natives confirm this belief. There was
the high plateau, and the three conical
mountain peaks that we are told once
In prehistoric ages, we're the prominent
features of this now grey old earth. So,
DR.. briggs thinks, that it was there
that the original Adam delyed and
Eve Span"-after the figleaf episode.
According to Eskimo tradition the
first man was made, not from the dust
of the earth, but from piece of chew
ing gum. Long, long ages ago woman
first appeared, from whence or how the
tradition does not state. But she was
first, and there must be something of
merit in this Eskimo tradition, for she
has held her place very we'll, most of
the time at least, since shortly after
creations first dawn. Well, this first
woman, one day was lying on her couch
of furs, chewing gum, but growing
weary of it, she took it from her mouth
and fashioned it into the form of man.
Tired then, she fell asleep, to find upon
awakiug that the breath of life had been
breathed into the figure Of gum of
which she had been the architect, and
10, man was there and so the world be-
gan to be peopled.
1t is related as fact that high upon
a mountain to the northward and east
ward of Point Hope are the skeletons
Of three large oomiaks or boats, in good
condition. They have been we'll pre-
served, during 10000 years, or more
perhaps, by climatic conditions. Per
haps they were ancient Noah's arks, or
most likely they once rested upon the
seashore, and during the gradual ele-
vstion of this hyperborean region, they
at last obtained resting place on the
toppest summit of an Arctic mountain.
According to Eskimo tradition the
eariboo or reindeer sprang from the
wild boar, which, like the great wild
boar of the Roman legend, was once
abundant, and which deGoured men,
women and children.
The natives, too, know of the moose
which once roamed the Arctic steppes
In great numbers, the last having dis
appeared, they claim, scarcely more
than so years ago.
The Eskimo, says Dr.. briggs, are
great story tellers, and at night, after
the days hunt or other labors have
ended, the best story rellers beguile
the long hours of night by reeounting
tales of bygone centuries.-Nome Mug
get.