The Delta independent., 1906-05-04
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Boyhsod Customs In ti,e Cod North
\ Good Hunter at Six Year.
Of Age.
Truly II fares strangely with the
little man" far beyond the bounda.
ries Of Uncle Sans own land. So
strangely. indeed. that he Is really a
little man years before the American
mothers little man" has developer
into her 'big boy"
Just as soon a. the nrst son OF a
west coast OF Greenland Eskimo Lad
Deen weaned. in his fourth year. his
iatner had placed in his hands TOW
bird darts and harpoons.
Play with them long. little one"
the proyident father cautioned wise,y
Life Is hard In the land OF the eterna
SHOWS, and 1t viii be only a short
time before thou wilt be called on To
do thy full share In lighting for the
sustenance Of the family"
For the next i've years the child.
with . cunning bred in him. through
no one knows how many generations
Ss~Pt AOAoSASnSAy uPOA ElTuS. even
bringing them down with stones when
he tired OF plying his darts. His skill
In this direction grew SO wonderfully
that his little hands soon learned 10
throw unerringly his diminutive har.
poon at birds swimming In the inlets
or into the black bodies of seals
towed by his father. coming home in
his kaiak from the hunting fields of
the sea.
The Little Esklmo Man.
The boy is now eleven years old. For
two years he has spent a large part a,
bis time playing kaiak.man In his fatu
er's kaiak. Now his father, having
proudly watched his son gradually gain
. good working knowledge Of the boat.
has decided to have Q kaiak built for
the boy.
So the father takes his son to the
shore and they walk along il for
distance OF several miles, gathering
drift wood. the boy meanwhile being IN
structed In the art OF selecting the
proper kind 0f material for the frame
Of kaiak.
That afternoon. with the little man
lending helping hand now and then.
tho big man puts together the ribs Oh
the boat Bright and early the folio.
Ing morning the boys mother and he
friends. all chattering gaily, sire, .
over tho ribs q flne seal skin, MAD
pliable by much diligent chewing G.
the mothers part. As they stretch
they sew II In place. so that when IL
last stitch Is taken the skin Is iaHl
everywhere; the kaiak perfect in every
detail.
Tho father Is nightly pleased. and
he shows II by passing around hot cof-
fee TO all those who have worked on the
kaiak. While this Is being drunk, the
child struts into their midst a verit
able bundle Of skins. He has on n
wholejacket, with q hood
over his head. the sleeves have mittens,
his boots reach to his hips over skin
trousers. The only part Of his body
exposed Il his eyes and roundabout.
BY this time the father has placed
In their respective positions on tho
kaiak lance, hArpoon b'adder. coilcd
harpoon line. kaiak knife. biadder-dart,
btrd-dart, throwing sticking harpoon
The boy lays hold OF tho kaiak, and
with Q lusty shout hnuls II to the
waters edge. He thrusts his legs In
tho round holc In the middle, meant
Tor tho purpose. He fnds. as should
be tho case. that the opening Is Just
The circumference OF his thighs. In
q 1iny hc fnstens the bottom of hls 4.
to the kaiAk ring around
the rim Of the hole and raised slightly
above It. He makes = quick movement
with his two-bladed paddle. and is on
for his initial voyage In his very own
kaiak.
Value Of His Tralning.
Rough IL the sea. Still tho little
man" battles successfully with the
waves for the better part OF Ave min
utes. riding them like q duck. Their !.
he unexpectedly hnds himself IN Il,
trough OF the sca--and the next in
slant the kaiak is bottom side up and
the boy ID hanging head downward In
the water.
But the little man has not played
about his fathers kaiak In vain Az
ne feels the boat capsixing he selzc
ono end Of his paddle In his right hans
md with tho left he grasps tho shaft
as near the middle as his short arm
Will let him. As he holds his breath
for dear life, he places tho paddle
along the kaiak's side. with INC pad
dies free end pointing toward the bow
this end sharply out to the
side and bending his body we'll for
ward toward the inverted dock. hs
makes . strong. circular sweep OF the
presto: here he IL again
right side up and with not n drop 8
water In his kaiak or beneath his skfh
clothing. For this dry condition he has
TO thank tho chap who long ago coss
ceived the idea Of fastening the bottom
Of the whoiejncket to . kaiak ring
and to his mother for lovingly maxine
bis sea-going garments waterproof
Twice more. before he points hi.