El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-06

laughing. They sing and they seem 70 be
fond Of music ana dancing i went last night
10 one Of their dances held IN an old school
house not far from the Eskimo section OF
Nome. The schoolhouse has but one room
about 80 feet square, It IS walled Win WIN
dows. and light Of the mirdniSht sun mace
the interior bright as day On a bench
under the windows sat the musicians, eight
Eskimos dressed in native costume anu
the room was filled with dancers
The music came from drums like am
bourines. each consisting OF hoop as DIG
around as a dishpan. over which skin was
stretched like the parchment OF drum
head Zach man had his own drum anu
he pounded upon this with "A 1.-the white roo
OF the length OF "A walking STICK some o.
the drums Were larger than others. ana lht
eight Musicians produced all the notes OF
the octave They sang as they play ca anu
kept perfect time
The first dance was by five sturdy young
men. clad in long skin boots and trousers
all were bareheaded- The dancing was
largely series Of postures- The men
pounded the floor with their feet. they
spraug into the air and swung their arms
this way and that keeping time TO the
music. They sang the while in loud raucous
tones. their voices changing in expression
according 10 the story OF the song Now
they seemed angry. As though singing OF
war. and again laughing. when the tale Wa
perhaps Of a more comic nature Much OF
the dancing was like that OF kussla- anu
one or two Of the dancers natives OF 81
IBERIA Later women and girls entered the
dance and at one time young woman Win
= baby on her hack. stood in the center ana
like a musical director. led the dancing.
I cannot describe the enthusiasm OF the
Eskimo audience during the dancing.
Around the walls. standing up or sitting on
their heels. were scores OF these copper
and their hands clapping as they lost them
selves in the music The features Of all
changed with the songs. and the crowd was
more sppreciative than any have ever seen
at a concert or dance in the states
Have Blanket Tossing Game.
After the dancing was over. We went out
side the schOolhouse and had an exhibition
OF blanket tossing as played by the Is
rounded a tanned walrus hide about 10 fe.t
square holding il low with their hands.
OF the hide He stood upon his feet. and at
a word they jsrked the hide taut. sending
him Up into the air. As he fell they came
closer together and then again threw them
selves back. tossing him higher and higher,
and continuing TO do so long as he could
keep his feet Later an Eskimo girl took
the boys place and then one or two Of the
strangers stepped on the hide. and were
tossed 10 the sky amid the hilarlty OF Their
Eskimo friends We took up COLLECTION
and the amount was distributed among the
Learn Value of Money.
The Eskimos are rapidly learning the
when they would give polar bear skin or
e bale OF foxskinS for a fish hook Tney now
suow the value OF their furs and bring them
20 the best markets During my stay ths
king Of the Diomede Islands which lie II
Boring strait midway between North Amer
Ca and Asia brought the annual fur catch
y his people here for sale The furs con-
sisted Of the skins Of fox. polar bear and
other animals. and the whole amounted in
value TO some thousands OF dollars
/ watched the sale which was held n
he billiard room Of the hotel at Nome. The
skins were spread out over the tables. and
the old chfef. clad all IN furs. sat half
doubled w in a chair smoking an Eskimo
pipe. accepting or rejecting the bids His
face was scanned with wrinkles as though
na~rafa Of
Mari chiefs I So in New Zealand His skin
vas dark brown. but his hair was as white
as the fur Of his palor fox skins; and II
stood out like bristles over his head asked
the fur dealers as TO his character. They told
me he was honest and much respected. They ,
said he was wealthy from Eskimo stand
point. being worth perhaps as much as SIC
600. and owning a schooner mat cost nm (
ivorv that these Eskimos bring 20 the hotels
10 sell to the tourists They use the rusks
Of walrus, carving upon them images OF
n On bears seas and wolves Ihey maze
oribbage boards Of these tusks. and paper !
knives. and handles for canes and umbrei- !
las A very large walrus tus6 was recently ,
earved ard sent TO the president Of the /
United States II represented animals and |
hunting scenes, and was a mass Of artistic /
Toys Of Ivory
All OF the Eskimo carving today is done !
With steel tools. but there IS work IN exist
nee that dates back TO the stone age The
ools OF flint. and it is known that they 1
have been carving ivory for many genera
ions. Some Of the very poorest Of them and
hose that live in the most out Of the way
places are noted for their work OF this kind.
rhey seem to do It for pastime and make
many toys and dolls for their children They
have a way OF softeniEE the bone horn or
worry before they work Il. and to make the
arriving more distinct they etch lines on the
surface with a black paint made Of mix
ure OF Eunpowder ar blood This. when
put on the freshly cut bone. makes q per
M nent stain Nearly every traveller who
,omcs TO Alaska carries away some Of their
,arvings-
The Eskimos OF today are rapidly chang
ms. They live differently from those des-
ribbed in the books Of arctic travel On the /
seward peninsula they have houses OF wood /
md skin. and the snow house is COMPARE
lively unknown. except in the heart OF mid
via.er- Most Of their winter houses are eel
ars dug out OF the ground This cellar is
Usually four five feet deep and twenty or
twenty-five feet square Poles Of driftwOod
re laid about Il to heighten the walls and
fmbers are placed across the top Then
lirt and sod are piled around the hole. until !
hey have what looks like great mound OF
.arth. In the center OF the top is an open
ne. about large page Of a newspaper
icross whick is stretched a sheet OF seal or
valrus bladder This is transparent and If !