Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-10-08

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 fit
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 b~earskins for the prolonged
night. had ventured alone far up into
the mountains. His gun went off acct
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 of
taking her to him as wife No. ?.
When we later saw Ikwa 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 squat
frosted the decks, and to escape the
icy air we sought our warm berths
early. At 4 o'clock in the morning
the gray gloom separated and the
warm sun poured forth a suitable
wealth of August rays.
At this time we passed the ice bat
tered and storm swept cliff of Cape
Parry. Beyond was Whale sound. On
a sea of gold, strewn with ice islands
of ultramarine and %alabaster, whales
spouted and walrus shouted. The
grampus was out early for a fight.
Large locks of little auks rushed over
on hurried missions.
Entering lnelefield Gulf.
The wind was light, but the engines
pulled us along at a pace just fast
enough to allow us to enjoy the superb
surroundings. In the afternoon we
were well into Inglefield gulf, and near
Ittiblu there ryas a strong head wind
and enough ice about to engage the
eve of the lookout.
We aimed here to seeure Eskimo
guides and with them seek caribou In
Olrick's bay. While the yacht was
lacking for a favorable berth In the
drift off Kanga the launch vas low
cred and we sought to interview the
Eskimos of Ittiblu. There were only
one woman a few children and about
a score of dogs at the place. The wo-
man talked quickly and explained at
some length that her husband and
others were away on a caribou hunt,
and she told us without a leading ques'
ton the news of the tribe for a year.
After gasping for breath like Il smoth'
cred seal, she began with news Of pre-
vious years and n history of the for
gotten ages. We started back for the
launch, and she invited herself to the
pleasure of our company to the beach
An Eskimo Trade.
We had only gene a few steps before
- -a----s a. - 4he+ ~l.e -ree T., noaf
of something. Would we not give he
a few boxes of matches in exchange
for a narwhal tusk? We would be de
lighted, said Mr.. Bradley, and a hand
full of sweets went with the bargain
Her boy brought down two ivory
tusks, each eight feet in length. Thc
two were worth $3.50.
Had we a knife to spare? Yes, ant
a tin spoon was also given just t.
show that we were liberal.
The yacht was headed northwart
across Inglefield gulf. 1t is necessar.
for deep sea craft to give Karnah
wide berth. There were bergs enough
about to hold the water down, though
an occasional sea rose with a sicken
ing thump.
The launch towed the dory, of which
Nance and her children were the only
occupants.
Karnah was to be her future home
and as we neared the shore we tried t.
locate Ikwa, but there was not a mar
in town. Five women, fifteen children
and forty-fiye dogs came out to meet
is. The men were on a hunting cam
paign, and their location was not ex
actly known.
Attahtungwah, Manee's rival, a fat.
unsociable creature, stood on a useful
stone, where we chose to land, and did
not accommodate us with footing or
the same platform.
A Thrifty Eskimo Camp.
There were five sealskin tents pitch
ed among the powders of a glacial
stream. An immense quantity of mar
whal meat vas placed on the rocks
and stones to dry. Skins were stretch
ed on the grass, and a general air OF
thrift was shown about the place.
Bundles of sealskins, packages of
pelts and much ivory were brought out
to trade and establish friendly inter-