The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-04

ESkimoS must not only gather the
greatest number possible, but must
prepare the skins and make them into
properly fitting garments.
i In other places reindeer were abun-
dant. This skin was very much In
demand for sleeping bags, while the
sinew was required for thread In
4 still other places seal was the luck of
the chase, and it's skin was one OF our
most important needs. OF it boots
were ordered, and an immense amount
of line and lashings was prepared.
/ Thus in one way or another every
man, woman and most of the children
of this tribe of $50 people were kept
busy In the service of the expedition.
| The work was we'll done and with
much better knowledge of the fitness
of things than could be done by any
| possible gathering of white men.
Use of the NarwhaI.
| The quest of the walrus and the mar
whal came in our own immediate plan
of adventure. The unicorn, or mar
whal, does not often come under the
eye of the white man, though one Of
the first animals to leave our shores
1t gave for brief spell good results
in sport and useful material. The
blubber is the pride of every house
keeper, for It gives a long, hot fame
to the lamp, with no smoke to spot
the igloo finery. The SKINS regarded
as quite a delicacy. Cut into squares,
it looks and tastes like scallops, with
| only a slight aroma of train oil.
The meat dries easily and is thus
priced as an appetizer or as lunch
to be eaten en- route in sled or kayak.
In this shape it was an extremely use
full thing for us, for 1t took the place
of pemmican for our less urgent jour
neys.
The narwhal, which, apart from Its
usefulness, is most interesting to den
izens of the arctic deep, played in
| schools far off shore, usually along the
edge of large ice. It's long ivory tusks
rose under spouts of breath and spray.
When this glad sight was noted every
kayak about camp was manned, and
the Eskimos' skin canoes went like
birds over the water. Some of the
Eskimos rose to the ice fields and de-
livered harpoons from secure foot
ing. Others hid behind floating frag-
ments of heavy ice and made a sudden
rush as the animals passed.
Still others came up in the rear, for
the narwha1 cannot easily see back
ward and does not often turn to watch
its enemies, it's speed being SO fast
that 1t can easily keep ahead Of other
troublesome creatures.
Hunting the Narwhaf.
The harpoon is always delivered at
close range When the dragging float
marked the end of the line in tow of
the frightened creature the line of
skin canoes followed. The narwhal Is
timid by nature. Fearing to rise for
breath, he plunged along until nearly
strangulated. When 1t did come up
there were several Eskimos near with
drawn lances, which inflicted deep
gashes.
Again the narwf1a1 plunged deep
down with but one breath and hurried
along as best it could But its speed
slackened, and line Of crimson mark
ed its hidden path. Loss of blood and
want of air did not give 1t a chance
to fight. Again 1t came up with a
spout; again the lances were hurled.
The battle continued for several
hours, with many exciting adventures,
but in the end the narwhal always sue
cumbed, offering prize of several
thousand pounds of meat and blubber.
Victory, as a rule, was not gained until
the hunters were far from home, also
far from the shore line. But the Els
kimo is courageous hunter and an
intelligent seaman.
Towing the Carcass.
To the huge carcass fraiI kayaks
were hitched In long line. Towing
is slow, wind and sea combining to
make the task difficult and dangerous.