The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
ESQUIMAU WAYS AND CUSTOMS
SEATTLE WOMAN'S THREE YEARS
EXPERIENCE IN SIBERIA.

And Ivory Carving-Marriage Gust 8ms
-Heipless and Old Kined-How They
Build Their Homes-PArontaI Ties.
Try q I am here In Seattle said Mrs.
A. n. Baber, who has just returned to
Seattle after three years in northeastern
Siberia, but thrss years 70 enough for
any white perBon to spend among the
hall Civilized tribes Of northeastern 81
befia. It b 40 experience that l am
tiad to have been able to 20 through,
and yet I do not care to repeat the trip
When one Ia away from civilization, the
last boat leaves for home, and you know
that for at least eight or nine months you
are entirely cut Of from the outside world,
It fpaees you appreciate home when you
return.'
Mrs. Baber spent most OF her time while
In Siberia collecting cudos and fine Q
inhenb d ivory carving by the natives and
In the study Of the customs and history
Of che different tribes. Among the many
novel ivory carvings secured by Mrs.
Raber, says the Seattle Post InteHi-
3sncer, IL q solid slab, about two feet in
length, with carved figures representing
the history Of the Mensiskas tribe for 100
years, the longest period that the history
Of the tribe Is preserved.
During two years Of the time they wore
In Siberia, Mrs. Baber never saw q white
peBon, with the exception OF her hus-
band and daughter, and she is satisfied
to remain in civilization for the rest Of
her life.
'fn speaking OF Siberia said she, 'there
ta - AdiNN y, b. vntnl 49, o~nn -.
tenn and all its attending horrors; and che
popular though mistaken belief Is that It
is bleak, barren and cold in all It's parts,
aud inhabited only by Russian eIiles.
As d matter Of fast, the only Russians
In Siberia are these exiles, for no Russian
would think Of going to Siberia unless he
were ostraoized; though many Of them pre-
fer to remain in the homes they have made
for themselves, after their sentence has
expired.
an eastern and northeastern Siberia
there ara many tribes, both settled aud
wandering. These tribes are Of Japanese
and Chinese origin mostly, and eaoh Is q
distinct tribe Of itself. speaking n different
language, much as our American Indians
we're BET ore they were reduced to q civilized
state, but with this diiIerencs-there Ia no
var among them. They seem to have no
ambition beyond q few sports for their
Amusement, other than eating and
eleepina from one day to another.
aThe ssttled tribes live principally upon
fish, and they must catch enough during
the GUNNER months to last them during
the long month"; whom everything is frozen
up. They never by any chance lay up
more than enough, nc matter how plentiful
The season may he, 30 that, as Is sometimes
the case, when there IL q season when fish
are mob plentiful enough to supply the
demand there 10 sure to be q famine among
than, unless they can get help from some
OF the wandering tribes, who depend upon
the reindeer for their living.
sseli further north, In the snowbound,
ieelocked region, where the summer con-
more than ninety Of what Ia TO them warm
Weather. are the Esquimaux, or, as they call
themselves, the Mesinkas, meaning good.
Here the warm ssason is 30 short the
atouhd scarcely thaws a foot below the
surface, and about fifteen days Of which Is
90 infested with mosquitoes az to make life
Q burden.
1fhA cold ssason from the time 1t begins
Until II grows warm again 10 literally O
bowling blisasrd.
sfhe people are Of the average height
and they live I'd huts built entirely Of polev
end ahinA
I'm order TO guard agains. being buried
beneath drifts they ssleot o slight rise Of
ground and build them ootagon shaped.
In this way the fierce gales blow the snow
By on ell sides, Eight tripods Of three
poles each are set On the ground at equal
distances apart, forming q circle. Across
' the top ore laid poles to connect them, aud
, holes are bored in the end Of each pole;
| through them leather thongs are passed..
binding the Standing poles and thoss con-
Meeting together, Weights OF stone or
eapd are hung IN the centre Of each tripod,
and this holds the hut sscure In the strong
TaEktAAding from THE framework in .
nnrlnal ahafa % che oEntrA arc okhar nnlna