Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-19

out into the bay and anchored for q
few hours. Oomanooi was but one OF
six villages in which the tribe had d.
vided its 250 people for the current
season.
To study the people, to further en-
courage the game Of barter and to en-
Joy the rare sport Of yachting and
hunting In mans northernmost haunts
we prepared to visit as many villages
as possible.
In the morning the anchor was rails
ed, and the yacht set sail to a light
wind headed for more northern VII
lages.
Ducks were secured in abundance.
Seals were given chase, but they were
able to escape our craft. Nearing
Saunders island a herd Of walrus was
seen on q pan Of drift ice far ahead
Of the yacht.
Two with splendid tusks were OBJ
tanned, and two tons Of meat blubber
were turned over to our Eskimo al
lies.
An Eskimo Widows Story.
Among the Eskimo passengers pac-
ing the deck was a widow, who, in
tears, told us the story Of her life-a
story which offered a peep into the
comedy and tragedy Of Eskimo exist
ence. She had arranged den under
q shelter of sealskins among the an
chor chains. We had offered her a
large bed, with straw in 1t, and a
place between decks as a better nest
for her brood Of youngsters, but she
refused, saying she preferred the open
air on deck.
She had come from American shores.
and, as foreign belle, her hand was
sought early. At thirteen Ikwa intro
duced her to a welded life not strewn
with blubber. He was cruel and not
always truthful.
Two girls graced their home. One
was now married. When the young
est was out of her hood, Ikwa took
the children and invited her to leave,
saying that he had taken to wife
Ahtah, a plump maid and a good
seamstreSs.
Nance had neither advantage, but
she knew something Of human nature,
and soon found another husband,
good deal older but better than the
first. Their life was hard one, for
Nordingwah was not a good hunter.
but their home was peaceable, quiet
and happy. Two children enlivened
1t. Both were ut her side on tho
yacht. boy Of eight. the only deaf
and dumb Eskimo in all the land, and
a thin, pale weakling Of three.
Both had been condemned by the
Eskimo law Of the survival of the f1t-
test, the first because Of insufficient
senses and the second because it was
under three and still on its mothers
back when the father passed away.
They were not to participate in the
strife of life. But an unusual mother
loved them.
A few days before the previous win
ter the old father. anxious to provide
warm bearskins for the prolonged
night, had ventured alone far up into
the mountains. His gun went Off acci-
dentally, and he never returned.
The executor Of the brother OF Ma
nee's former husband was kind to
her for the long night and kept fam
inc from her door. In the summer
day she had been able to keep herself, |
but who could provide for her for
the night to come? Her only resource
was to seek the chilled heart OF her |
former husband. and we were per-
forming the unpleasant mission or
taking her to him as wife No. =.
When we later saw lkwa he did not
thank us for the trouble we had taken
but we had expected no reward.
The speed of the yacht Increased as
the night advanced. A snow suuall
frosted the decks. and to escape the
lev air we sought our warm berths |
early. At 4 o'clock In the morning |
the gray gloom separated and the
warm sun poured forth suitable
wealth Of August rays.