Sketches From Oldest America 



The seal-gut window having been removed, the 

 people gathered there several rows deep, all desir- 

 ous of witnessing the wonderful act. 



Our hero no doubt felt the importance of the 

 occasion and filled his pipe more times than his dis- 

 cretion should have allowed ; first came the stage of 

 exhilaration, the world looked beautiful, and he 

 spoke entertainingly of the traditions of the past, a 

 subject that is always interesting to an Inupash, 

 even if he has already heard them many times; 

 then came the well-known after effects, which 

 nearly all beginners with the weed experience. 



His transient indisposition served as no warning 

 to the people; neither did the odor of the smoke 

 that they had been forced to shield their noses from. 

 Had they not seen him swallow fire and belch forth 

 smoke ? Had they not seen him during the stage of 

 exhilaration } They all wished to pass through a 

 similar experience, but tobacco was scarce and held 

 at a fabulous price. One pull at the pipe was worth 

 two dressed sealskins; or a pipeful of the weed, 

 affording two good swallows, cost two deer- 

 skins. Only the wealthy could afford such a 

 luxury. 



" Nanoona " has long since gone to his rest, but his 

 125 



