SHORT S FROM OLDEST AMERICA JOHNB.DRIGGS,M.D El CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM S . . Buriiliain Cornell University Library E 99.E7D77 Short sketches from oldest America / 3 1924 028 760 050 The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028760050 SHORT SKETCHES FROM OLDEST AMERICA W^ ^^iMr jm Ml — % 2 ^,^^& y ^■^f.,.^^ -^rvA r SHORT SKETCHES FROM OLDEST AMERICA By JOHN B. DRIGGS, M. D. PHILADELPHIA GEORGE W. JACOBS & CO. PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1905, by Gborge W. Jacobs & Company AiiisAfJ July, igos Publishers' Preface From the small size of this volume, one would hardly realize, perhaps, what an immense amount of labor and patient research its writing must neces- sarily represent. The author, who was first sent to northwestern Alaska in the summer of 1890, and who, by the bye, has, with the exception of two vacations of a year each, been constantly at his post in that bleak country ever since, found himself one day landed, with his possessions, upon the inhospi- table sea-beach of the Point Hope peninsula, where for weeks he was compelled to shelter himself from wind and rain, as best he could, in an improvised tent made of barrels and boxes with canvas thrown over them. Finally, the carpenters of some of the whaling ships were got together and a house, which had been framed in distant San Francisco, was put up for him, a few hundred yards from the water's edge. A mile or so away lay a large native village, the inhabitants of which naturally regarded him as a great curiosity. But he found himself quite unable S Publishers' Preface to communicate with them otherwise than by signs, as the printed vocabularies and grammars, with which he had been supplied, proved to be inac- curate and practically valueless. His house finished and no scholars being forth- coming, he proceeded one day to capture a native lad whom he found on the beach, and, leading him home, taught him several letters of the alphabet and then baked him a cake. This system of rewarding attendance with something to eat rapidly brought other scholars. Older visitors followed, and he soon had a school in active operation and then a lecture-room. Prior to Dr. Driggs's arrival, the experiences which the natives had had with the whites had not been universally satisfactory. Outside of rare meet- ings with the officers and crews of the governments revenue cutters, their white acquaintances had been pretty much confined to the class known as " beach- combers," or deserters from the steam-whaling fleet. These are described as a rough, unscrupulous set of fellows, too worthless to obtain better em- ployment in San Francisco, where they are enlisted. Some of these undesirable visitors had already ap- peared at Point Hope and had outrageously abused the 6 Publishers^ Preface peaceful inhabitants before our author's arrival there. In contrast with such men as these. Dr. Driggs proved himself a friend indeed to the poor natives, and succeeded in due time in winning the affection and confidence of their entire tribe. Little by little he mastered their language, until he has become so proficient in it that he is now planning to write a grammar. During the summer months many of the Point Hope natives are away from home for long intervals in quest of game or on fishing expeditions, and the doctor would frequently follow their example, making long excursions along the coast, as far north as Icy Cape, if not further; and southward, along the shores of Kotzebue Sound. Similarly for many winters, wearied with confinement to the house during the long night, he was wont to set out, ac- companied by some native guide and wife with dog-team and sledge, to make trips of several hun- dred miles over ice and snow, exposed to blizzards such as we have no conception of, camping out when weary in an improvised snow-house, or sleeping, perhaps, in some native settlement, where the only fare would be uninviting frozen fish. 7 Publishers' Preface These last excursions, however, he has been obliged to discontinue in consequence of having frozen one of his feet, several years since, when he fell from an ice floe into the ocean, and was with difficulty dragged out by his companions. And right here it might be as well to observe that the pretty picture which childhood's memories de- pict as adorning a page in our Physical Geography, with its fur-clad traveler sitting comfortably on his sledge, brandishing his whip and dashing gaily along behind a row of trotting dogs, is more im- aginative than accurate. The real use of the dog- team, it would appear, is merely to drag the traveler's baggage. The men plough along through the snow in front, and the animals, harnessed in single file, drag the sledge behind them, following the woman, to whom they are accustomed to turn for their food. Thrown thus into close contact with Dr. Driggs, their physician when ill, their teacher in health, their friend and protector always, the natives gradually learned to discard the suspicion with which they must have originally regarded him, and confided to him their traditions and legends, which primarily they would naturally have guarded with the most sedulous care. How many an evening camp-fire, S Publishers Preface how many a long conversation must these prim- itive tales represent! How much patience, upon the hearer's part, it must have required to corrobor- ate these traditions by comparing one account with another and noting their remarkable similarity! These sketches are real native stories put into read- able English, without any attempt at embellishment or enlargement. Near the native village of Tigara extends, for a considerable distance, the ancient burial place t>f the tribe. Here, upon elevated platforms, sup- ported high above the ground on whales' jaws, out of the reach of wild animals, have slumbered the dead for ages past. In and beneath these places of sepulture. Dr. Driggs has found many interesting relics of great antiquity, which he has brought away with him. Among these were the original instruments used in bygone ages for making flint axes and arrow-heads. These the reader will find described in the text. The site originally selected for Dr. Driggs's house was too close to the shore. He found this out one night when a storm brought the water of the Arctic Ocean up over the land, and a succession of big waves forced his door open. Carrying a native lad 9 Publishers' Preface on his back, he was compelled to wade, in total darkness, through the icy water, for several hun- dred yards before he reached terra firma. After this startling experience, his house was moved to higher ground and further inland; but, proving always extremely cold, it was subsequently re- placed, as a dwelling, by another and smaller build- ing which was protected from the piercing wind by a thick casing of sod. In conclusion, we will say that Dr. Driggs is a man of iron constitution, strong physically and mentally, an excellent shot, and one who hardly knows the meaning of the word /ear. In years to come, his name will rightly go down to history as that of a hero. lo Preface During many years spent within the Arctic Circle of Northwestern Alaska, at Tig-a-ra (Point Hope Village), where 1 have lived at the mission station of the Episcopal. Church, acting as medical man and teacher, and, later on, in deacon's orders, I have naturally become interested in these ancient people, and have written the following volume of short stories simply to show the nature, traditions and legends of the In-u-pash.' I have also introduced a few brief sketches, hoping to give a little insight into the simplicity of these primitive people who have been isolated from the outside world from the most remote time. There has been no attempt made to exhaust the subject. John B. Driggs, M. D. April, igoS- ' In-u-pash — Native inhabitants of the coast of the Arctic sec- tion of Alaska. II Contents I. Introduction «7 II. The Tragedy of The Three Brothers . 23 III. The Metigewek .... 3> IV. Origin of Man . . . . . 35 V. What Brought Age into the World 39 VI. Toongna ..... 43 VII. The " Ongootkoot "... 47 VIII. Webukside ..... 'il IX. Birth of Tooloogigra . 63 X. Day and Night .... 69 XI. Man's First Constructed Home 73 XII. The Mammoth .... gi XIII. Fire-Making 85 XIV. Instruments . . . • 89 XV. Music 99 XVI. Wooden Faces . . . • los XVII. The Evolution of the Cook . 109 XVIII. Chokarluke . . . • • 117 XIX. Introduction of Tobacco 13 121 Contents XX. Winter Evenings and Stories 127 Allugua ...... 130 Caterpillar ...... '3S Tungnaluke's Perplexity .38 The Raven, the Barnacle Goose, and the Whale 142 XXI. Courtship ...... '49 XXII. The Wooing of Billy Fishtail '55 XXIII. Writing ...... '59 14 Illustrations The princess and her companion Frontispiece A group of In-u-pash Facing page 22 An elevated grave .... . " " 96 Nanoona's descendants . " " 124 Mr. and Mrs. Billy Fishtail . . " " 156 15 I Introduction INTRODUCTION Only those who have had the experience, know the pleasure of traveling outside the beaten tracks and viewing new scenes that are not generally known to the average tourist of to-day. Every year the Atlantic has its throngs who are crossing the ocean to visit old places which have become familiar to the majority of readers. There is a route for the student of nature, which has been only partially opened of recent years, that presents many points of interest. While nature has not yet become defaced by the artificial scenes which the Atlantic tourist meets throughout his journey, the traveler can try the newer way by turning his steps toward the Pacific and visiting Alaska. There may not be all the comforts one experiences on the Atlantic, but the ocean voyage will be found plenty long, and there will be the satisfaction of viewing one's own country. Alaska is a vast and not thoroughly explored territory, wifh many different tribes of people, 19 Sketches From Oldest America whose history if it were but known, would fill many an interesting volume. The signs of an advancing civilization are to be noted in the way of small towns and mining camps, extending even as far north as Nome ; then, if the journey is continued through the Behring Straits into the Arctic regions — where in winter, the moon forms its circle in the heavens, while in summer, the sun remains up as if trying to make amends for its long winter's absence — up as far as Point Hope to the village of Tigara, the tourist will find there an interesting and friendly people. His first impression probably is, what a bleak and barren coast! but, should he allow his thoughts to wander back to the remote past, he can imagine how in ages gone by this may have been an Eden with its luxuriant vegetation and a much milder climate. The huge mammoth roamed freely through the forest, along with many other animals that have long since passed into the forgotten his- tory of long ago. Then through the changes of nature the warming ocean currents were shut off, causing this to become the bleak and barren country it is now, enveloped in ice the greater portion of the year. The belt of cold, acting as a barrier, isolates the people from the outside world, and they 20 Sketches From Oldest America have continued living in their primitive condition until the present awakening. Should the geologist inform the villager that North America was once under water, only the tops of the highest mountains extending above the one great ocean, hke so many islands, and that then the ocean currents carried their warmth to the Pole, the Tigara man would reply : ' ' Yes, in very old times only three mountain-tops extended above the ocean, and it was at a very remote day that my ancestors first appeared." Should the evolutionist inform the villager that man did not at first stand in an erect position as at present, but went round on his hands and feet; that the sperm whale originated from an animal akin to the bear; and that other great changes have taken place among the various members of the animal kingdom, the Tigara man would again reply: "Yes, the earliest men did not have their lower extremities developed for walking; the Bow-head whale originated from an animal similar to the deer, while another member of the whale family, called the Killer, armed with large teeth instead of baleen, originated from an animal akin to the wolf; the deer of old was a hornless and carniverous animal, 21 Sketches From Oldest America having teeth like those of the bear, its canines being quite long, and when it appeared in herds the earlier inhabitants were alarmed, as it used to attack and devour the people." He will also tell you that its fat was similar to the blubber of the seal, or per- haps more like that of the domestic hog, but the animal for some unknown reason began eating the salmon-berries called " achea," and in time became herbivorous; with the change of diet it gradually changed its habits, growing horns and losing its back teeth, ultimately becoming the caribou of the present. The man of Tigara, through his traditions, has known all these things for ages past, while the man of science is only finding them out through his patient investigations. The visitor can now enter into an interesting train of thought while saying to himself: "What need is there of crossing the wide ocean, with the delusion we are visiting the old world, while there are here in our own country the oldest Americans, a race of men who, according to their traditions and the rude architecture of their homes, can antedate any people to be seen by the tourist on his beaten lines of travel ? " 22 o II The Tragedy of The Three Brothers II THE TRAGEDY OF THE THREE BROTHERS In the east not far from the region of the Ro- manzoff Mountains, toward the land of the Cogmo- liks, there lived during the early days four brothers. The eldest had taken a trip on the ocean in his kyak or light skin boat. As the day drew to a close he had not returned, but it excited no attention among the members of the family, as it was a usual thing for any of the people to stay a few days at a friendly iglo' without leaving word at home where they were going, or how long they would be absent. Some acquaintances coming along reported that they had not seen anything of the missing man ; then suspicion began to be aroused that everything might not be right and a search was instituted, but no trace could be found of him or his kyak; no one along the coast seemed able to throw any light on his whereabouts, although they lent their aid by joining in with the searching party. ' Iglo, a mound house. 25 Sketches From Oldest America As time went by, all hopes of the missing one's return were abandoned. The people talked about the case as one of those mysteries which had no solution. Then later on, a second brother, ventur- ing on a trip, disappeared as completely as did the first. The remaining brothers were much alarmed and did not know what to do. A third brother started out determined if possible, to make a more thorough investigation, but disappeared the same as the others. There now remained only Ahvooyoolacha, the youngest of the four. He was bowed down with grief at the great loss he had sustained, but it re- mained for him to solve the mystery. He went out in his kyak and had not proceeded far from shore when his attention was attracted by what appeared to be a whale in the distance. It was a common sight so he gave it no heed, and even when the supposed whale came closer he paid no attention to it. Not until the creature came very near and charged him with a huge open mouth armed with great teeth, did he become alarmed. What to do he did not know; there was no chance to escape to the shore; he was unarmed, with the exception of a spear which 26 Sketches From Oldest America seemed altogether too insignificant an instrument to defend himself with against such a huge monster; yet in his dilemma it was the only chance he had. Grasping the spear with a hand rendered firm by despair, he awaited the right moment, and just as the animal was about to close its massive jaws to crush him and his frail kyak (aiming down the throat, his fright lending strength to the action) he cast the spear with great force. The aim had been good and the throw a powerful one. The creature instantly dove remaining down for quite a while, then floated to the surface, dead. Upon examining the body, it was found to be as large as that of a whale, at the same time resembling that animal in appearance, but in addition it had four legs. The mystery had been solved and Ahvooyoolacha at last knew the fate of his three brothers. The Whales of Alaska There are two varieties of the whale much sought for on account of the baleen they yield. The Right Whale of the Behring Sea, as well as of other waters, and the Bow-head that makes its summer run along the American coast as far as the Arctic Archipelago. In September it strikes westward to Herald Island, 27 Sketches From Oldest America and in October back to the Behring Sea, where it is supposed to spend the winter months at the south- ern edge of the ice. It is one of the large members of the whale family, sometimes attaining a length of sixty feet or more and yielding whalebone some times over twelve feet in length. The Bow-head is a timid, peaceful animal, preferring to visit the small bays and secluded nooks of the northern coast, where it can feed unmolested. All along the coast of Arctic Alaska, there are lagoons of various sizes; many of them have streams as feeders, while others have no feeders but have openings into the ocean, which become temporarily obliterated by sand when there is a heavy sea breaking on shore. It was into the latter form of lagoon that, a very long time ago, a school of Bow-heads had entered. The wind blowing on shore had obliterated the entrance, so the whales were entrapped with ap- parently no means of escape, yet they all crossed the beach and regained the ocean, a feat they prob- ably could not accomplish to-day. The people watched them as they worked their way over the beach, the large ones making rapid progress while the small ones were very slow. 28 Sketches From Oldest America The Killer is one of the larger members of the whale family, which the natives prefer not to at- tack, as it can be very vicious at times. Even much further south than Alaska, the creature has the reputation among the shore whalemen, of chasing the boats to the shore occasionally and has had many victims. Its chief food is the seal and beluga, while its sly disposition enables it also to capture the water birds. Placing itself just beneath the surface, with open jaws, it emits a substance that attracts the birds who settle down on the waves and begin feeding; the Killer then darts forward, capturing the birds which it quickly devours. It is also said sometimes to attack as large an animal as the Fin-back. 29 Ill The Metigewek Ill THE METIGEWEK The Metigewek was the largest of the numerous traditionary birds of Tigara. Its enormous size and strength enabled it to seize and bear to the interior the whales on which it used to feed. Even to-day when the older inhabitants find the skeleton of a whale, back from the coast in the interior of the country, they declare it was the victim of a Metige- wek at some remote time of the past. One of the earlier inhabitants has been credited with a somewhat similar experience to that of Ganymede. A hunter having killed a deer was in the act of cutting it up preparatory to carrying it home. Noticing a shadow coming over the ground, he looked up just as a Metigewek swooped down and seized him in its enormous claws and bore him aloft. The bird carried him to a great height, so that the earth was almost lost to view. The man having retained his spear began stabbing the bird ; at last the wounds proving fatal, the Metigewek 33 Sketches From Oldest America gradually descended and reached the earth just as it expired. That night the hunter slept under the wing of the bird, ultimately reaching his home in safety. 34 IV Origin of Man IV ORIGIN OF MAN There is a fascination at the camp-fire. Men that have remained silent through the day will be- come entertaining under the genial influence of the crackling logs as they blaze and send their myriads of sparks skyward. So this evening as I examine the notes in my Polar log-book, collected at many of those fires, I find that man, no matter how hu- miliating the admission may be, is forced to yield the palm of antiquity to woman and — chewing gum. Yet as we pause to consider the subject, from the Polar man's point of view, it is but natural that woman should be first, for without her aid there certainly would be no men. My log-book says that at a very early time of the world's history, long before day and night had been created, or the first man had made his appearance, there lived an old woman, indeed very old, for the tradition of her having had a beginning, if there ever was such a one, had been lost. We must bear in mind that during the first stage of the world 37 Sketches From Oldest America everything remained young and fresh; nothing grew old. It was not until a much later date that the indiscretion of a boy brought those physiolog- ical changes known as growing old into the world and placed a limitation to the period of youth. The old woman was like a young girl in her appearance and feelings, and being the only inhabitant of the earth, naturally felt very lonesome and wished for a companion. She was one time chewing "pooya" (chewing gum) when the thought arose in her mind that it would be pleasant to have an image to play with, so taking her "pooya" she fashioned a man, then by way of ornamentation placed a raven's beak on his forehead. She was delighted with her success in making such a lovely image and on lying down to sleep placed it near her side. On awakening her joy was great, for the image had come to life and there be- fore her was the first man. 38 V What Brought Age Into the World WHAT BROUGHT AGE INTO THE WORLD At a time long ago, before old age had been in- troduced and while our early ancestors were still enjoying a state of perpetual youth, a boy was living with his grandmother. One day she re- marked that they were out of provisions, to which he replied: "Never mind, grandma, I will set a snare and we will quickly have an owl to feast on." He skipped merrily off and soon had ensnared a large white owl. On approaching the bird, the fol- lowing conversation took place: Owl — " What are you going to do with me ?" Boy — " I am going to kill and eat you." Owl— " Don't you do it." Boy— " Why not ? " Owl — "If you kill me, I will make you an old man." Boy— "Grandma and 1 are hungry, and we are going to eat you." Owl— "Again I warn you, if you kill me I will make an old man of you." 41 Sketches From Oldest America Notwithstanding the warning, the boy killed the owl and started to carry it home. Household duties did not hang heavily on the ladies of that day, so grandma was killing time by watching for the boy's return. At last, slowly ap- proaching and dragging a large white owl, she saw a withered old man, stricken with the infirmities of age. It was her grandson who had left her but a short time previous, a merry, happy youth. So old age was introduced into the world for the first time and has continued ever since. And often since that day many an old Inupash ' who has felt the infirmity of age coming on has sighed and sin- cerely wished that the boy had shown more discre- tion by hearkening to the warning of the owl. ■ Inupash, native Arctic inhabitant. 42 VI Toongna VI TOONGNA The belief in an evil spirit is in all probability as old as the inhabitated world. It seems to be one of those traditions that has descended with man from the most remote times, not having lost but having gained strength through its long ages of descent. No matter where one may travel, he finds the ma- jority of mankind firm believers in such a spirit. Even here in the far North among the Polarites there is such a belief. "Toongna," the evil one, is supposed to be the adversary of man, and to him is ascribed all the misfortunes that afflict the people. Some he makes sick, while others he causes to be unfortunate in their undertakings. If a mother loses her new-born babe, Toongna was at the bottom of the misfortune, and she is placed under the super- stitious ban called "Karookto," not being allowed to mingle with the rest of the villagers for a number of months, and the same tribal law is enforced in all families where death has occurred. Should a hunting party visit the interior in quest of deer and 45 Sketches From Oldest America not meet with success, Toongna has followed them and been the cause of their failure. Should foul weather with heavy gales arise at an undesirable time, Toongna has been the cause. Hence the necessity for some one having the power to expel this evil spirit that afiflicts man in such various ways; and the "ongootkoot," rising to the emergency of the occasion by pretending to have the desired power, early became the important man of the tribe. " Toongna " seems to have been one of those un- fortunate spirits unworthy of having a history, for if he ever was on earth as a mortal his parents dis- owned him, and no one seems to have the least am- bition to be considered one of his descendants. He is simply a nagger of men that has had his day. Under the growing enlightenment of the people, his supposed power is diminishing, and the " karookto" is becoming a thing of the past. 46 VII The "Ongootkoot" VII THE "ONGOOTKOOT" The " Ongootkoot " is the sorcerer, prophet and historian. He claims to have the power of expelling "Toongna" by his enchantments, and can do such marvelous things as change the wind, drive off eclipses, avert or drive off misfortunes and expel the evil one from the sick. There are two ways of be- coming an "Ongootkoot" — one is by inheritance, the other by claiming to have performed some mar- velous act. The Polar inhabitants are a primitive, confiding people, so when one claims to have per- formed an act contrary to the laws of nature, there are no questions asked or inquiry made; the state- ment is simply accepted as a truth. At one time long ago there lived a villager who had lost both his feet. He, being an invalid, re- mained in his iglo, simply existing as an object of charity to the neighbors, who were in the habit of supplying him with food. During the fall of the year, when the weather was growing cold, there occurred an eclipse of the sun, at the same time a 49 Sketches From Oldest America severe earthquake gave the inhabitants great alarm. The ground moved and rolled like the ocean waves, while large crevices opened in many places allowing smoke and sulphurous vapors to escape. The people in their fright rushed out from their homes; the invalid, forgetting his crippled condi- tion, also sought the open air and began jumping down the beach on his stumps, or as the people said, " He jumped big." No doubt the alarm added to his alacrity in his effort to escape, thus gaining for him the reputation of being an excellent jumper. The eclipse passed off, so also did the earthquake, but the villagers all declared that it was the jumping of the invalid that caused the phenomena of nature to cease, and after that, instead of being an obscure cripple, an object of charity to his neighbors, he arose to the dignity of being one of the greatest of "Ongootkoots." If any of the inhabitants were taken ill, the cripple's aid was solicited, and he would jump around the sick one a few times, exor- cising the evil spirit and commanding it to depart. If hunting parties were about to start on expedi- tions, they could not expect to meet with success unless the cripple had jumped around them and their sled a number of times. His fame extended 50 Sketches From Oldest America throughout the surrounding country, his services being solicited from far and near, and he soon be- came quite prosperous, the rule among "Ongoot- koots " being the greater the pay, the more effica- cious the treatment. At a far more recent day it was discovered that a certain Puneunau had a great admiration for his neighbor's dogs, he considering them a toothsome dish. The chief banished him from the tribe, with the warning that if he returned, the death penalty would be inflicted. In his wanderings Puneunau led quite a checkered career with its accompanying hardships. Several times starvation seemed to stare him in the face. It was during one of these latter occasions that he discovered the art of running a small slim stick down his throat without injury or great discomfort. After the death of the chief, Puneunau returned to the village, claiming he could perform a marvel- ous feat, and in proof of the assertion he ran the stick down his throat, then went around uttering gutteral sounds. The thing seemed wonderful in the eyes of the villagers, gaining for him the reputa- tion of being an "Ongootkoot." One thing troubled Puneunau, however: he was SI Sketches From Oldest America still a widower, much against his will, not for any lack of perseverance in offering himself to all the neighboring widows, but because none of them would accept his offer. At last that slight difficulty was removed. A widow belonging to another tribe came to the village with her children, and her son being ill, Puneunau offered his services to cure the lad. Day after day he would go to the iglo, run the stick down his throat, then walk around ut- tering gutteral sounds, but the boy refused to be cured and finally died. This, however, did not re- lieve the widow of her obligation to pay the " On- gootkoot " for his valuable services, and as she was very poor and had nothing with which to meet it, Puneunau took the widow herself for his fee. The Inupash believe there are spirits wandering through space. Occasionally one of them, becom- ing discontented, desires to enter the world as a human being. It looks around, then selects some young woman about ready to enter womanhood, one that is noted for her virtue and other good quali- ties, to become its mother. Having made the selec- tion, it awaits the opportunity and uses her as the medium for gaining its desire, in due course of time a child is born, which on maturity becomes an 52 Sketches From Oldest America "Ongootkoot" of the first grade. Such births of spirits, desirous of entering the world as human beings, it is said, have continued down until com- paratively recent times. These earth-born spirits had the reputation of being men with charmed lives who could not be killed. " Kownalia " was such an one. His descendants will often relate how, when just born, he began talking with the people, conversing like an adult. At one time while visiting further North, he and a number of men ventured on thin ice; the ice broke and all were precipitated into the water. " Kow- nalia," stepping on the backs of the struggling men, walked to the shore uninjured, while all the others perished. The claims for "Ungmana," another "Ongoot- koot " of the first grade, were that he could lay his abdomen open, then, placing fuel inside, set the mass on fire, the people being allowed to witness the blaze and smoke. He would then remove the charred mass, and on closing the wound there would be no sign left of an injury having been inflicted. These " Ongootkoots " have undoubtedly rendered a service to their people in the past by acting as their historians in preserving their traditions; they have 53 Sketches From Oldest America also done good in the class of cases where nothing more than a faith cure is needed for the sick. Con- cerning the latter, the Polarites are not to be too much condemned when we consider the large amount of su- perstition exhibited by some of the more civilized inhabitants of the States, who have unbounded con- fidence in their "Faith Healers." The marvelous claims that are made for these ' ' Ongootkoots " are un- doubtedly due to the zeal of their descendants, who are naturally anxious to place their ancestors in as favorable a light as possible, especially if they themselves aspire to become " Ongootkoots " by in- heritance. It is also doubtful if the marvelous deeds were ever known until the man had been dead fifty years or more. The "Ongootkoot," however, has had his day and is now on the decline. One often hears the older people say, as they shake their heads, that he is not the wonderful man he was in the days of old. The young people, through their growing enlighten- ment, are also losing confidence in the man and his claims. Of those who were confirmed by the Bishop of Alaska at Point Hope in the summer of 1903, four were directly descended from spirits entering the world as human beings; but they dis- 54 Sketches From Oldest America carded their supposed birthrights and have become zealous church workers. Others have been baptized and married to their wives, and are making good citizens as well as earnest Christian workers. Should one take a trip through the Arctic portion of Inupash land, it is doubtful if he would meet with very many really non-Christians, for the people are now accepting the Nazarene as their great good spirit. The workers in the field truly taking an in- terest in the people and trying to benefit their con- dition have been few, but the people themselves have spread the teachings they have received, and the seed has fallen on fertile ground. It is true there is yet much of the old superstition of the past, but it has had its day and is gradually lessening its hold on the people. 55 VIII Webukside VIII WEBUKSIDE There is a firm belief among the Polarites that a time is to arrive when the world will come to an end, it being known as " Webukside " or the Judg- ment Day. "Tooloogigra," the great and good spirit who was once on earth as a mortal, will be present to judge the quick and the dead. All are to be examined. The wicked, who through the sinful lives they led while on earth have not merited eternal happiness, are to be rejected and consumed in the great fire which will finally destroy the world. Those whose good lives have earned for them eternal joy are to be saved ; they are to pass with " Tooloogigra" into their future home, where they will live forever, free from all cares, or sorrows, pr suffering of any kind. When a man dies, it is believed that after the third night some member of the tribe, who has made the journey before, visits the grave to conduct the new one to his home where he is to remain while awaiting the coming of "Webukside." On 59 Sketches From Oldest America the fourth day after a death, some member of the family strikes four blows with a hammer, at the re- cent home of the deceased, which is a sign of fare- well and means that the spirit is not to return to that iglo again. With a woman, it takes one day longer to pass to the place of waiting, so not until after the fourth night are the knocks made. The dead have deer-skin masks over their faces and their hands are encased in mittens. Like the Jews who have so long been awaiting the coming of their Messiah, so the Inupash have been waiting and looking for the return of " Tooloo- gigra " for ages past. Besides liberating day and night from their confinement (during his childhood), " Tooloogigra " has been credited with one miracle. When grown to manhood, he was once making a long ocean voyage with some companions in their kyaks, and being thirsty, he longed to reach some land where fresh water could be procured. His thirst becoming urgent, he cast his spear, and the western portion of the land now known as Point Hope arose from the water. The village of Tigara is at the extremity of the storm swept point, which used to extend westward much further. When "Tooloogigra" had fulfilled his time on 60 Sketches From Oldest America earth, he did not die as an ordinary mortal, but as- cended into the sl