Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-04-19

/ lihood for the Eskimo. it has been
found necessary by the government to
put the young natives through a
course of training. Those who get
their deer directly from the govern
ment. serve an apprenticeship OF FIVE
years. There are several hundred of
these at present. They are bound by
written contract, the strict terms of
which they cannot violate without
peril of losing their annual allotment
of reindeer and suffering discharge
from the service. This caring for
training and breeding the deer is an
education in itself. and the best which
the government could give to the
young natives. With careful training
the Eskimo boys make excellent herd
ers. They readily learn how to take
care OF the reindeer, to throw the las
so, to harness and drive the deer. and
to watch the fawns. Siberian herders
were first imported to teach them, but
Of late years the more intelligent and
efficient Laplanders, who have learned
by centuries Of experience the breed
ing OF reindeer, were secured. The
Eskimo boys take quickly to some
phases of the work and in some re-
spects excel the Laps; they can lasso
better than the Laps, and many be-
come experts in making harness and
sieds. The minding of the herd re-
quires constant vigilance, especially
in the spring, during the fawning sea-
son. Then the herders have to keep
watch day and night by turns with
the rifle to protect the herd from raw.
ages Of the Arctic wolf and dogs.
Mark to Designate.
In the ear of each government deer
little aluminium button is fastened
securely. and all private owners and
herders have a mark which must be
registered with the local. superinten-
dent of the reindeer station and also
at Washington. Besides being taught
the art Of deermaDship, the appren-
tees are instructed in keeping ac-
counts. the methods of marketing rein
deer. and in other practical matters
connected with the industry. No ap-
prentice can become herder unless
he is proficient in the branches of ele-
mentary reading. arithmetic and writ
ing. At the end of his apprenticeship
the young Eskimo native Is allotted a
number Of deer by the government.
and with the increase obtained during
the interval of his five years service,
each apprentice will have, on an aver
age, herd of so reindeer.
AS this herd win double itself everv
three years. the graduate apprentice
will have a herd which will afford and
assure a self-supporting income quite
enough to satisfy the economic wants
Of himself and family In the future.
He is thus established In business by
the government and is given free pas
turage thereafter The reindeer pro
duces one fawn in the spring each
year for 10 years. Among the useful
and profitable products OF the reindeer
are the skins for clothing. OF these
pelts most varied use is made. From
them are fashioned the tight-fttine
trousers and that wonderful outer gar
ment. the "parka." universally worn in
winter by both male and female ns-
tives and by many whites. The ssparka
extends to the knees and has a close
fitting hood. which keeps the head and
shoulders comfortably warm even In
the severest weather. These reindeer
garments are remarkable for their en-
cellent qualities Of resisting moisture
and cold. A close examination of the
hair Of the reindeer furnishes an ex-
PLANTATION of its peculiar value. Tn
hair is not merely hollow tubular
structure. with a cavity extending
throughout its entire length, but is d.
vided, or partitioned on, into exceed
ingly numerous cells. like watertight
compartments. These are filed with
air and their walls are SO elastic and
at the same time of such strong resis-
lance that they are not broken up eth
er during the process Of manufacture
or by swelling when wet The cells
expand in water and thus It happens
that a person completely in garments
made of reindeer wool does not sink
when in water. because he is buoyed
up by the air contained in the hun
dreds Of thousands Of hair cells. As
the mineral industry continues to
grow in Alaska the natives and gradu-
ate apprentices can earn high wages
as teamsters hauling supplies and fur.
nishing fresh reindeer meat to mining
camps in the interior. at points re-
mote from railway and steamboat
transportation. well-trained sled deer
have been used to carry the nail $50
miles from Barrow south to lEotzebue