Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-11-04

DONS NtiG lutll
irewOrks for the morrow of celebra-
lou. but aboard. as our vessel. the
John K. Bradley, withdrew from the
nier, all was quiet. There were no
visiting crowds of curiosity seekers.
No footing whistles signalized our de-
narture.
An arctic expedition had been born
without the usual public bombast.
There was. indeed. no excuse for
lamor. Neither the help of the gov
4rument nor the contributions of pri-
cate individuals had been sought. The
project was quietly given life and its
expenses were paid by John Il. Brad
ey. Its destiny was shaped by the
writer.
MIR. Bradley was interested In game
animals of the north. was interested
IN the game of the polar quest For
he time being the business concerned
us only. If the venture proved sue
'eSsful there would be time enough to
raise the banner of victory. If it fall
ID none had the privilege of heaping
upon us the unmerited abuse which
usually comes to the returning polar
traveller.
In brief month all had been pre-
nared for the peculiar mission. We
nad purchased strong Gloucester fish
ng schooner, fitted with motor, COW
cred for ice and loaded down with
suitable supplies for a prolonged pc
riod.
One morning the bold cliffs of Cape
York were dimly outlined in the gray
mist which screened the land. A storm
had carried so much ice against the
'oast that a near approach was i'm
possible, and continued winds kept up
sea which made it equally difficulty
to land on the ice.
In Ice Free Polar Waters.
Though anxious to meet the natives
1t Cape York. we were forced to turn
md set a course for the next village,
1T North Star bay. At noon the sooty
clouds separated, and in the north
through the narrow breaks we saw the
steep slopes and warm color of GRIM
SOD cliffs resting on the rising water.
Darling through the air were count
less guillemots, gulls. little auks and
elder ducks. We were in the ice free
uorth waters, where creatures of the
sea find marine oasis In midst of a
polar desert.
This kind of coast extends poleward
to the lands end. 1t is the abundant
sea life which makes human habita-
tion just possible here, though land
animals are also important.
The people of the farthest north are
crowded into natural reservation by
the arctic ice wall of Melville bay in
the south and the stupendous line of
cliffs of Humboldt glacier in the north.
Home of the Eskimos.
Widely scattered in small villages,
the northernmost Eskimo finds here a
| good living. A narrow band of rocky
land between the land ice and the sea
offers grasses upon which feed ptarmi-
gan. hare and caribous.
Numerous cliffs and islands afford q
| resting place in summer for myriads
OF marine birds that seek the small
| life of the icy waters. Blue and white
foxes wander everywhere. Seal, walrus,
narwhal and white whale sport la the
summer sun, while the bear, king of
the polar wilds, roams over the sea at
all times.
The yacht lodged the icebergs and
dangerous rocks In the fog about
Cape Athol, then turned eastward to
cross Wolstenholme sound.
AS we neared Table mountain.
which guards North Star bay, many
| natives came out in kayaks to meet
us. Some we're recognized as old
friends. There was Myah, he of many
wives; Ooboiah, who had executed
AngOdgibsah, styled the villain by
Gibson at Redcliffe House. aud Pin
coota, husband OF the queen. in whose
family are TO be found the only hy-
brid children of the tribe.
Later, Knud Rasmussen, a Danish
writer, living rs a native among the
people. came aboard. With him we
got better acquainted during the win
ter.
Late at night a visit was made to
the town OF Oomanooi. There were
seven triangular sealskin tents, con-
veniently placed on picturesque rocks.
Gathered about these In large num-
bers were men. women and children,
shiveriDg 10 the midnight chill.
They were odd looking specimens Of
humanity. In height the men aver
aged but Eve feet two inches and the
women four feet ten inches. All had
broad. fat faces, heavy trunks and
we'll rounded limbs. Their skin was
slightly broBzed. Men and women
bad coal black hair aud brown eyes.
The nose was short, aud the bands
and feet were short. but thick.
There was not much news to ek-
change. After we had gone over the
list of marriages and deaths the luck
of the chase became the topic of con-
versation.
1t was period OF monogamy.
Myah had exchanged a plurality Of
wives for larger team OF dogs. and