from Point Barrow down along
the^coast to Teller attended this
annual gathering.
Natives of Noatak, Kobuk, and
Selawik brought down loads of
caribou meat and skins. Beaver,
fox, martin and otter skins were
brought down in birchbark boats.
As each tribe arrived at Kotze
bue it was expected to give a
dgnce and a feast. This was done
to insure the peace and good
health they wished to enjoy dur
ing their stay. Ahngott-kook and
his large household attended all
of these parties. Being the resi
dents of this particular spot, their
presence was expected by each
newly arrived tribe. Medicine
man was proud of this honor and
his desire was to appear well and
rich in the sight of his guests.
As time went on this became a
traditional custom and part of the
natives’ ancient religion. For
many songs that were sung had
powers and in many instances
proved this by saving lives and
showing them what the future
held for them.
Shortly after the caribou catch
the owners again were looking
into the trap, when they heard
human sobs. When they looked
down from the opening they saw
a woman kneeling on the dirt
floor. She was carrying a baby
on her back and was sobbing
lcrudly.
“Who are you?” Ahngott-kook
asked her incredulously. He and
his four wives breathlessly waited
for an answer. The trapped wo
man cried louder .than ever now.
“Don’t be afraid. We will pull
you up and no harm will comae to
you!”
“I’m Ahyay-yah from Little
Diomede,” the captive, feeling a
little better now, answered tear
fully.
When she recovered slightly
from her fright, she explained
that she had gone out of her home
to visit a friend, when she was
scooped up from the ground. Be
fore she knew what had hap
pened she had found herself
kneeling. Ahyay-yah felt that she
was inside of something that was
moving and she was afraid to
change her position. She now
mumbled something in gratitude
and burst into tears again.
“This trap must never fly again!”
Ahngott-kook was so touched by
the terribly frightened woman
that he vowed he would do his
utmost to stop the trap from fly
ing again. He had a song with
powerful words that he must sing
to take back the power he had
given to just a mere excavation.
He gave up a prosperous future,
preferring peace of mind, which
he knew he would never have if
he caused any more grief among
mankind.
What he had not anticipated
had changed his plans. And also
the trap appeared to cover a wide
area in its travels — way beyond
Ahngott-kook’s wildest imagina
tions.
The rest of the winter was spent
by these people by filling up the
hole with dirt.
With the coming of the trading
season, Kotzebue was alive with
activity. Many skin tents were
set up. From the mouth of the
lagoon clear down to where gov
ernment cold storage is now loca
ted, peddlers went from tent to
tent selling their goods.
Ahyay-yah’s husband came on
the boat that arrived from Little
Diomede. Ahngott-kook gave a
■big dance and feast in this young
lady’s honor. She was pretty and
small, with tattoos on her face
and hands and she wore a bead
necklace. Everyone witrtessed
how happy the couple was. And
the medicine man told the story
of the flying trap that unwitting
ly caught a human catch for its
owner.
To this day wise and old expect
the young and unwise to speak of
Kotzebue with respect. Once its
sole resident was a strong medi
cine doctor, who had his large
igloo in front of where the hospi
tal is now standing.
"SILENT NIGHT" IS
MOST BELOVED CAROL
Of all the songs that return to
bring warmth to the Yuletide sea
son, no carol is so universally
known as “Silent Night.” Certain
ly no other is as loved and sung
as this simple German song.
For years its origin was un
known, except that it supposedly
dated back for many centuries.
Recent investigations, however,
disclosed that it was produced in
1818. The poem was originally
written by Joseph Mohr, an
assistant priest in Obemdorf in
South Germany. The melody was
composed by a schoolmaster,
Franz Gruber.
Both the poet and composer
were part of the choir that sang
the now famous carol that Christ
mas Eve in the Oberndorf church.
The song was sung first to the
accompaniment of a guitar, for
the church organ wras out bf order
that Eve in 1818.
Mrs. Effie Baldwin is spending
the holiday with her foster dau
ghter, Ada, and family in Morril
ton, Arkansas.
.... .
\
Gud jul tillonskas az
And a Happy New Year
To friends in Nome
Both White and Native
E. B. Larson
Cardet, Sweden
i .. ..
1 I
MINERS & MERCHANTS
BANK OF ALASKA
NOME, ALASKA
'1 I t
• ;*
£,J ^
We hope you are the
very image of happiness
this Christmas.
I
POLAR
CURIO SHOP
BAR
LIQUOR STORE
The greatest gift , is gives again
on Christsus Day;
may this sev
Yuletide bring jojr
i and faith abssdant.
19^
BUILDERS SUPPLY CO.
:jj ■