Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1945-08-31
Tom Burn Writes
From Hudson Bay
CONTINUED from First Page)


Our Job is to rescue men both from
land. sea or ice cap that have been
forced down in crossing the Allan
tic on this way to the +. L. 0. and
return.
| have flown over the Artlc cir
Gle several times and have made
friends with many E,skimOS whom
are very valuable as guides on our
trips and Journeys. Up in Battin
Land and around the islands there
il where | have learned many in
tcresting things of the outdoors.
The Eastern Artic EskimOs have
difficult time just trying to sur
Nive. Their mortality rate is high,
and their means of livelihood are
more limited than those of the
Western Artic Eskimo. Income is
largely from the foxes which they
hunt and trap during the winter.
AS an aside many do Ivory cary
ing for which the Hudson Bay
Company always has a good mar
ket Using only knife or file eff
che can be found) the men carve
such things as birds, polar bears
seals, WalruseS and dog SledS The
polish and sometimes little designs
are set off with bits of bright
colored stones.
Before the war missionaries
were the only white men outside OF
the Hudson Bay people whom the
natives knew. These missionaries.
both Roman Catholic and Protest
ant have done splendid work in the
Artic and the Eskimo takes his re-
lgiOn very seriously and attends
church regularly whenever the
difficulties of his life permit him.
The Bible is the only book written
in Eskimo language and is widely
read
The Dominion of Canada through
its Royal Canadian Mounted Police
watches over the case diligently.
A unique way of keeping track
of the births and deaths has had
to be put into effect, for an ESki-
mo often changes his name during
his lifetime He is given name at
birth. and if famous hunter dies,
the next year, his name may very
well be changed to that of the
hunter. Then too, parents often
give their children away soon after
they are born, and one child in a
pair of twins are always given
away. So the Dominion of Canada
has developed plan of having .
little disc with number on i
given to each child at birth, anC
the disc is turned in again when he
dies In this way some sort OF cen
sus can be kept for the race ant
il has been discovered that in spite
of their high mortality rate, tn
race is increasing.
Eskimos have been used a
guides in all our Artic stations am
their thorough knowledge of tn
land has been of incalculable aid I
cur men in establishing and main
tanning weather stations In tn
main. they are a hardy. induStriOu
and cooperative race. they have I
be to exist in the relentless Arti
climate.
The animals hunted by the Fisk
mos are the WalruS, Seal. Narwha
Whale. Bear, Fox. and Hare. Tn
Reindeer is of great importance
not only because of their meat hl
also for the sake of their skin
which is used for coats and BET
ding. The small birds play an in
portant part in the household cc'
rOmv of the Eskimo, as they ca
easily he captured and stored Il
winter use and the little soft ski
can he made into undcrClOthir
which worn next to the skin
very warm and comfortable.
Perhaps it's much like our undo
wear. theirs tickles as much
ours scratches.
Every Eskimo has team
dogs the same as the farmers ha'
home have a team OF horses.
husky has a large strain OF wolf
him and is very dangerous II II
handled with proper care. /
pups arc kept in tent to acCt
tom them to being handled ny h
man beings Then they are taken
hand by the boys of the faml
SHIFTED to harness and sled bel
made for the purpose. Finally tn
are placed in the team OF Ole
dogs where their serious tram
hceinS and it is OF very harSh I
tlrp. The dogs are driven ny VIC
of command and by the whip
long thong of whole hide attach
IN a short stock. A good handler
tho whip can strike with the tip
tho lash within an inch or so. !
team is spread out fanwise W
the leader in the center attached
tho sledge by a longer trace II
Tho others so that he runs ahead
tbem These dogs are savage to
strangers and before entering
hut guarded by team. visitor
welI advised to call on one OF
inmates to quiet them.
The scenery is really not m
IN write home about. Trees can
crow except in we'll shelte
enots Many plants are low-ly
ana even creeping through
rmanv rocks. Most of the trees
dwarf birch and spruce.
Summer is gone up here II
the nights are like fall at no
ve T chilly We had some 81
s,nrries and ice in the fresh vi
likes few days ago.
There is one thing up here
hos really impressed me more
nmythins else, that's the Nortl