The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-08-19
4 RrAr pnrmrrrvr RACE.
siberian Natives to Ne Exhibited 20,
h First Time.

- ~ ~ ~
the First Time.
One would think that with the large
lumber OF great expositions In recent
years, at which some few OF the nrimi
live races are always represented. II
would be next to impossible to find
any race of men that had not been ex.
hibited before. But 1t has been done
most successfully and when the great
Pacific Worlds Fair, the Alaska-Yu-
kon-Pacifc Exposition, opens at Seat
tie a race as primitive and uncontam-
mated by modern civilization as any
on earth, will be found upon the
grounds.
For the first time in the history Of
sxpositions the real unsullied native
Of the Siberian Arctic will be on view.
These natives are called Eskimos from
their similarity In costumes and habits
with the natives of the most northern
part Of North America, yet they are
racially widely different. A party of
34 natives of northwestern Siberia will
be a feature Of the 1909 exposition.
They come from three different vii
lagos and although living within $50
miles OF each other, each tribe speaks
q different dialect, making II almost
impossible for them to speak to one
another. There are two tribes OF
Sealmen and n of Deermen. The
Sealmen come from the coast on the
Arctic side Of Siberia, and are so called
because they live chiefly upon seal
meat. The Deermen come from the In
terror and live on venison.
These Siberian natives were per-
suaded to leave their homes and bring
their entire earthly possessions to Sc
attic by Capt. A. M. Baber, who has
been engaged In trading In the Siberi-
an Arctic for many years, and who
has the fullest confidence Of the ma
Ihves. The party was brought to Sc
attic this fall because II would be too
late next year to get them out, as nav
igation with the Arctic does not open
until well into July. On their arrival
at Seattle a few days were spent In
seeing the sights, and then Capt. Ba-
Der took his charges to an abandoned
fishing camp on Hoods canal, where
they can hunt and fish and live with
out coming in contact with civiliza-
lion.
They are real primitive people whose
chief business in life is the struggle
for existence. They live in skin tents
(igloos) and their clothing consists
entirely of skins. Seal, walrus, sea
otter and various kinds Of fish are the
staple article of diet Of the Sealmen.
The Deermen use some fresh-water fish
and much deer and bear meat, found
on the tundra wild fowl and their
eggs give some variety. Since first
coming In contact with the white man.
about go years ago., they have learned
to like hard bread, sugar and black
ten. The latter is the result Of the
Russian influence, as green or Japan
tea is not allowed in Siberia.
The community idea is strong with
the Siberians. If one gets a dozen seal
skins or half a dozen deer carcasses
ard has a full box of tea he is rich.
If the food supply Of one family runs
out the others contribute with no
thought of remuneration. The women
do the cooking, look after the children
and fish. The water Of the Arctic is
intensely cold, but the Siberian wom-
en- will wade out to their necks with
a long net and seine for fish.
They are a moral people. The thief
Is their greatest criminal and is given
short shrlft, being stabbed when
caught, but not given the rites of their
burial service. Unfaithful wives are a
great rarity. When the wife Is un
faithful che husband has the privilege
of biting off the tip of her nose and
II the husband is u%nfaithful the wife
leaves him, taking the children. The
most terrible punishment that can be
afflicted upon a Siberian father is to