330 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT . [eth.ann.18 



The last battle fought between the Yukon people and the Magemut 

 was about the time the Eussians first established themselves at St 

 Michael. This tight took place on a flat piece of ground at the head of 

 the northern branch of the Yukon mouth. Several low mounds visible 

 on this little flat are said to mark the places where the dead were left 

 in a heap after the battle. 



In ancient times the Eskimo of Bering strait were constantly at war 

 with one another, the people of the Diomede islands being leagued with 

 the Eskimo of the Siberian shore against the combined forces of those 

 on King island and the American shore from near the head of Kotze- 

 bue sound to Gape Prince of Wales and Port Clarence, An old man 

 from Sledge island told me that formerly it was customary among the 

 people of the Siberian coast to kill at sight any Eskimo from the Ameri- 

 can shore who might have been driven by storm across the strait, 

 either in umiaks or on the ice. 



I was also informed that at one time the inhabitants of the lesser 

 Diomede island became angry with those of the greater Diomede 

 Island and united with the people of Cape Prince of Wales against 

 them, but were defeated. The last war party in this district came in 

 a fleet of umiaks from East cape, Siberia, and the Diomede islands, 

 and sailed up Port Clarence, but meeting a large force of the American 

 Eskimo, both sides agreed upon a peace, which has not since been 

 broken. 



During the wars formerly waged among the people living on the 



coasts and islands of Bering strait, there was in common use a kind of 



armor made of imbricated plates of walrus iv^ory fastened together with 



'sealskin cords. Plate xcii illustrates a nearly complete set of this 



body armor, which was obtained on the Diomede islands. 



Plates of ivory for armor of this kind were seen on St Lawrence 

 island, and on the Siberian shore at Cape Wankarem. 



The i)eople about the shores of ISTorton and Kotzebue sounds were 

 . also familiar with the use of armor in ancient times. During my resi- 

 dence at St Michael two or three of the natives who lived turbulent 

 lives were reputed to have worn light iron armor under their fur frocks, 

 which it was claimed had been purchased from vessels, and from the 

 description must have been shirts of chain mail. 



GAMES A:N^D toys 



The Eskimo of the lower Yukon, the Alaskan coast district of Bering 

 sea, and the Arctic ocean have a considerable variety of games, both 

 for outdoor and indoor amusement, and most of them have a wide 

 range. The following detailed descriptions of some of them, although 

 taken mainly from the Unalit of Norton sound, represent games found 

 among other tribes. The greater portion of them are played while the 

 men are confined to the villages during the short, cold days of winter. 



In the vicinity of St Michael and some other trading stations the 

 Eskimo have learned to play cards, usually poker, and are passionately 



