# Kalumah — The Fur Country character guide

> Kalumah in The Fur Country by Jules Verne.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** little Kalumah, Poor Kalumah

**First appearance:** 0009-part-i-viii-the-great-bear-lake

## Snapshot

A young Eskimo woman who promised to return to her European friends and crosses hundreds of miles of ice to keep her word.

## Who they are

Kalumah is the link between Fort Hope and the native peoples of the far north, remembered for her attachment to Mrs. Barnett. When she sets out to revisit her friends, she finds Cape Bathurst gone and the coast itself vanished, and she weeps for those she came so far to see. Her loyalty and knowledge of the country make her a vital ally in the colony's darkest hours.

## Relationships

### [The Eskimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/characters/the_eskimo)

_family_

Kalumah and the Eskimo are likely related, possibly as father and daughter or close kin, sharing cultural ties.

## In the story

### [A Neighbourly Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xix-a-neighbourly-visit)

A young Eskimo woman who speaks English, having served the Danish governor of Upper Navik; invites Mrs. Barnett to her family's snow hut; visits the fort daily, learns English words, and sings melancholy songs.

### [A Tour of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-a-tour-of-the-island)

Mentioned fondly by Mrs. Barnett; Hobson recalls that the Eskimo likely knew the peninsula was unstable but did not warn them.

### [Kalumah’s Adventures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-kalumah-s-adventures)

Found nearly dead on the island; recounts her brave journey to reach her friends.

### [X: The Kamchatka Current](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-x-the-kamchatka-current)

Arrives at the fort and is warmly received; her appearance raises a brief hope that the island might have grounded; she is forced to stay for the winter.

### [A Communication from Lieutenant Hobson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-a-communication-from-lieutenant-hobson)

Mentioned as a native who knows Alaska well, useful for guiding the party to Fort Michael.

### [A Chance to Be Tried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-a-chance-to-be-tried)

Accompanies the reconnaissance parties and offers advice based on her experience; her arrival on the island is explained.

### [The Winter Months](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-the-winter-months)

Becomes a favorite; receives education from Mrs. Barnett and the soldiers; nurses Michael Mac-Nab day and night.

### [The Last Exploring Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xv-the-last-exploring-expedition)

Confirms the direction of the thaw and acts as a nimble guide through the ice.

### [The Breakup of the Ice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi-the-breakup-of-the-ice)

Uses her instinct to assess the ice, correctly predicts the island is drifting south, and reassures Hobson.

### [The Avalanche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-the-avalanche)

Buried in the principal house along with Mrs. Barnett and Madge.

### [All at Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xviii-all-at-work)

Also trapped under the avalanche; the rescue party works to free her.

### [XIX: Bering Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xix-bering-sea)

Devoted herself to serving the others during the imprisonment, carrying food through the water.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv-conclusion)

Becomes a member of the colony and accompanies Mrs. Barnett to Europe.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/characters/kalumah
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/characters