Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-12-26
contrast beautifully with tie eternal
green of the slopes.

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l arrived here on Uncle Sans wal
vessel, Ossipee, having on board
Gen. Rousseau and a portion of hi:
staff, also the Russian Commission
ere, -Pestchouroff and Korskal, both
Captains in the Russian Navy, and
sent by their Government, the one &c
deliver over the territory to our Com.
missioner, Gen. Rousseau, the other,
to settle the business of the Fur Com.
pany with the Governments which
had granted them protection for a
stipulated amount in furs. / saw
our much boasted of Sitka, saw its
grand, hoary mountains, saw its
'injuns," saw the stars and stripes
raised with military pomp, amid the
din Of cannons and tears OF pretty
young Russian Princesses, drank
with a crowd OF officers the Cover
nor''s wine, and smiled aud smirked
with his daughters, who could hardly
speak word of English But how
delightful! So much royalty. Very
Intoxicating! The poor things were
sorry that their flag went down. for
they were to lose their home. Were
they endea"ed to IFS bleak mountains?
DID they love this miserable cline?
Can 1t be pleasant to look out nine
months of the year upon sea of ice?
But 1 dwell upon trifies, compared
with the fact that the family of these
weeping princesses, under the Fur
Company's dominion, was growing
in wealth and distinction
There was something quite signifi-
cant Ia the coming down, or failure
to come down, Of that Russian flag.
1t caught as it was lowered, and the
listening hem was torn completely
OFF, leaving the flag on high. Mo
nopelies die hard, you know.
The ceremony of transfer took
place in a small inclosurc in front of
the Governors mansion and over
looking the bay. in the presence o: a
full company of U S Infantry and
small body of Russian soldiers, be-
sides few spectators.
The officiating officers were Gems.
Rousseau, jeff c. Davis and Dana.
on the part of the Americans; the
Governor of the Territory and the
two Russian naval Captains, before
mentioned, on the part of the Rus. |
SLAMS. Gen. Davis is the present
Governor, acting under the orders of
Gen. Rousseau, whose headquarters |
are at PORTLAND, Oregon. The for
mer Governors were Princes by rank,
and were appointed by the Emperor,
for terms OF five years. BY owning
most of the property, in houses and
land. and having the power OF decid
ing In every case, whether civil or
criminal, their reigns were extremely
arbitrary.
ITS THRIVING COMMERCIAL PORT.
The village of Sitka, consisting of
as many as two doxen rough board
dwellings, together with tue ware
houses ofthe old company, is inclosei
by stockade, and lies very low, the
tide at times rising into the streets.
Lofty mountains, covered with fir,
and wearing snow cap the year
round, form its background An
Archbishop of the Greek church re-
sides here, with his staff of priests.
There is also 4 Lutheran ministry
here, and schools for the education
Of the children of half-breeds and
Europeans.
CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES.
The Indians, numbering more than
D thousand, live in squalia state
outside the stockaie. Their shan.
tics of boards have bu. one room,
without flooring, in the center of
which a fire is kept continually burn
ng. 70 those who are acquainted
with the Indian face, there is moth
ng unusually striking in the features
Of these tribes, except that they
Dartake more of the square sr Mon
solian type than any l have seen on
he Pacific coast. The women orna- !
nent themselves by inserting in the
center of the lower lip gold pin or
piece of silver, bone or ivory,
which they increase in size as they
'dvauce in age. This strange orna-
nent can be removed at pleasure,
md as 1t projects straight out from I
'ne to two inches, has quite formid. 9
Lble appearance. One would sup
bose that it WIS worn as q defense
Igainst the bold advances Of their 9
admirers. Like their fair sisters OF !
he States, they, too. hang trinkets G
n their cars, though, unlike them,
hey arc as well satisfied with piece S
# highly colored cotton rag drawn G
trough a slit for the purpose as '
With the most elaborate piece of I
Tashed composition the market can !
ford. / have wondered whether v
hey were not the orieinators OF this i
tyie OF ornamentation.
CASTE AND ARIsTocRAcY. v
Each family has its peculiar style =
4 carving on their dishes and all :
omestic utensils, which is well :,
nown throughout the village. They !;
ave also their coats of arms carved y
ver the entrances to their dwellings :
{ tmay be bear, before whose life like - =
mage the stranger stands aback, or : :
'olf, or snake; and 1 will s.ate in ="
his connection that a family of
makes, as they name themselves, o
ever marry into family of wolves, "
r family of wolves into family G
bears. But if young bear de- s.
Tres to fold to his bosom for veal G.
r woe a youthful bearess. he pre-. II
ents hsr family with. the stipulated 81
lumber of blankets, and claims her a
18th her consent. "
EXISTENCE OF SLAVERY. T
The wealth of each family is esti. q
lated BY the number of blankets and 81
laves they own. These slaves be. p
ONE such from the moment of their