May-September 1881, Cruise of the Corwin Sketches and Notes Image 15

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1881
• Subjects: John Muir; journals; drawings; writings; travel; journaling; naturalist; eskimo*; walrus*
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/1755; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/jmj-all/article/2754/type/native/viewcontent/fullsize.jpg

a town would be hard to find. In summer it may be more comfortable. How a people who look as strong and decent and happy can live here is a great wonder to Europeans. Not one white man in a thousand has the requisite skill to wrest a living from the ice and snow of these regions. Just before we dropped anchor we noticed an American flag flying above one of the huts, which proved to be that of the Chief. In a few minutes we noticed several skin boats being shoved down over the blocks of ice that were stranded on the shore. Into them men, women and children piled themselves and paddled out to the ship and scrambled aboard, bringing out walrus ivory, seal-skin boots, reindeer and bird-skin parkas, mittens, etc. to trade. They uncovered their wares on the deck, forecastle and about the pilot house, offering this and that for tobacco, calico, knives, etc. There was much inquiry for beads, molasses, and most of all for rum and rifles, though they willingly parted with anything they had for tobacco and calico. After they had procured a certain quantity of these articles, however, nothing but rifles, cartridges, and rum would induce them to trade. But according to these are not permitted to be sold by American law. There seemed to be no good reason why repeating rifles should be prohibited inasmuch as they thus more surely and easily gain a living by their use, while they are peaceable and can hardly be induced to fight without very great provocation. As to the alcohol, no restriction can possibly be too stringent. To the Eskimo it is misery and oftentimes quick death. 2 yrs. ago the inhabitants of several villages on this island died of starvation caused by abundance of rum, which rendered them careless about the laying up of ordinary supplies of food for the winter. Then an unusually severe season followed bringing famine, and after eating their dogs they lay down and died in their huts. Last year Captain Hooper found them where they had died, hardly changed. Probably they are still lying in their rags. They numbered ...