Identifier: inalaskanwildern00gord (find matches)
Title: In the Alaskan wilderness
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Gordon, G. B. (George Byron), 1870-1927
Subjects: Eskimo languages Alaska -- Description and travel
Publisher: Philadelphia : The John C. Winston Company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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kyaks havegone out to sea to look out for whales. As soonas a kyak returns reporting a whale, the waitingcrews launch the umiaks and go in pursuit. Thebest and most successful harpoonist in each crewstands in the bow on the lookout; the rest ofthe crew, eight or ten men, work the paddles.It is a great honor to capture a whale and themost successful hunter occupies a proud positionin his village. When the carcass of a whale hasbeen towed ashore there is great rejoicing andmuch feasting. It is cut up and the meat placedin the caches for the winters supply. Next to the whale, the most important biggame is the walrus, which is speared on the floeice as it moves in detached masses southwardthrough Bering Sea in the autumn. The hair seal frequents the shallow waters ofKuskokwim Bay and is speared from the lightkyaks. The chief food product derived fromthe seal is the oil which is stored in large bagsmade from the skins of the same animal. Asupply of seal oil put up in this way is always 212
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A MAN S COAT MADE OF SKINS OF GEESE on hand and furnishes one of the staple articlesof diet. It is used in connection with dried fishand other mixed dishes. Deers meat, which used to be plentiful, isnow scarce and highly prized. The tallow is agreat delicacy and those who would indulge inthe luxury must pay for it. It is an article oftrade, passed from one place to another at goodprofit in skins or other commodities. Geese and ducks breed in great numbers inthe tundras, and in season they are hunted eitherwith the bow and arrow or by means of thebolas, a kind of sling made of ivory balls attachedto strings, all of which are united at the other end. Fish, especially the king salmon, are takenin nets and in traps and dried or smoked. Inwinter tomcod are caught through holes in theice with hook and line and with traps. Besides these items furnishing the staple foodsupply, there are certain delicacies and prepareddishes, each appropriate to the season. Theeggs of the geese are gathered an

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