The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-08-28
FROM MANY LANDS
(By Jennie Hunt.)
The Raskei Baby

bAilNi = E'll' 2-HhlNll'
Iluntin' for a RABBIT skin
To wray our Baby Bunting in.
You and /, our mothers and fathers,
and thousands of other children for
generations have been lulled TO sleep
with this song. 1t should he sung
to the little KlinGit babies in Alaska,
for their fathers are often Off hunting
for the RABBIT skin to really wrap the
baby in.
The Klingit mother wcnvcs from
the inner bark of the cedar a sliper-
like basket, stifcncd up the long back
with reeds or slender withcs, for ba-
by's cradle. This basket work is Gov
cred with cunningly fitted case Of
strong, coarse muslin made with flaps
below the pillow to button over baby
when he's tucked cozily in. She gathers
quantities Of beautiful, soft, feathery
moss and has it dried and ready to
use for packing under and around
baby in his basket.
Also there are soft RABBIT skins to
dress for extra wrapping on the wee
feet and legs Bits of blanket are
set apart for the chest and shoulders
of the newcomer, who is first thor
oughly oiled, then wrapped about with
his little blanket and slipped into his
moss-lincd nest; the feet are snugged
in with the RABBIT skins and the moss
is packed in about the body. then the
flaps are drawn in together and but
toned over the folded arms and from
under the chin all the way down to
the feet. Baby's head is sometimes
covered 10y little fitted cap, some
times by only fold Of Il blanket, leav-
inE the face alone exposed to view.
Baby is now ready to be moved about
even by a careless or inexperienced
nurse without danger to spine of limb.
The basket is easily swung by lcath-
crn ropes across a corner Of the house.
and by means Of string attached
to the side Of the cradle it can be
rocked by a person even too lnfrm
or crippled to do other things.
When the baby grows old enough to
take notice" his elders often stand
him up in his basket against the wall
so that he can look about and see
what is going on, though not unncc-
cssary care is given him, no nerve
taxing effort is made ~ hurry speech
and laughter lie lives in his basket day
and night; eats in il, sleeps in it.
and travels in it. Occasionally he is
taken out and rubbed all over with
oil. When he goes abroad in cold
weather, 1t is still in his basket under
fathers or mothers blanket. In sum
mcr during busy times, such as the
fishing OF berry seasons, he is set up
against a rock or tree out of the way.
1t is at these times that flies and mo-
squitoes plague the poor little unpro-
tected face, for the baby hands are
securely buttoncd inside. Still this is
the safest period Of Klingit child's
life, and | have sometimes wondered
If the provcrbial patience and trac-
liability Of the race were not tracable
to this early experience.
| think all teachers Of Alaskan chill
drcn have been surprised to find them
so easily governed, gentle and obcdi-
ent, while yet possessing so much Of
spirit and enterprise. In common
with the Indians Of our plains, corpor-
al punishment is unknown among
Knights as "A means Of family dis
ciplinc. Physical pain is given to an
other, whether child or adult, only
rs IAN eye for an eye retribution or
as a means Of driving out an evil spir
it which superstition leads them to be-
licve possesses certain persons.
When child is about a year old
tor. as the Klingit says, two years
old, meaning one summer and one win
teri, he is released from the basket
life, and is thcnccforth at the mercy
of the world, being mainly in the
charge of other children who are but
| little more than babies themselves
/ They make a pouch Of their blankets
and in these carry the babies upon
their backs; even while at play they
dart about thus, seeming hardly to
notice this precious burden. Very of
ten baby drops out of his pocket dur.
ing a game of tag and is hurt. To
accidents of this kind more than any
other cause can be charged the large
number of deformities among the ma
tive people.-Mrs. Eugene S. Willard
in "Chioren of the Far North"
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BARGAIN IN FARM