The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-11
visit to an Indian village In Alaska.


A correspondent of the Boston Journal gives the
following account Of visit to an Indian village In
Alaska:
THE dwellings or lodges are about twenty.
five feet square, built of logs, about ten feet
posted, and extend in line along the water front
/ counted over eighty dug-out cedar canoes
moored in front and fastened by ropes made Of the
wild nettle, which grows adundanty on the island
and Is covered with coating of the toughest FIBRE
Around each cabin Is group Of Wolf-faeed dogs,
which lie torpidly during the day and howl dis
mally all night. Five or six slippery steps lead
mp TO hole not unlike the opening in Kennel
then there was an equal descent down greasy
steps 10 what constitutes the floor. In the center
burns huge log fre-the sticks laid cross-wise,
in Clubhouse fashion. The smoke works its way
up through an opening in the roof. Seated around
the fire in abjeet sziness were all the occupants
old and young Of both sexes. They have no tables,
few low stools, q large quantity OF wooden
trays, copper kettles, horn ladies', bowls and
spoons, and a numerous variety Of wooden spears,
lances. and darts pointed with bone and ivory.
The most curious articles Of workmanship are
their ladies and dishes, wrought out of the horns
OF the wild mountain sheep which live on the
mountains OF the mainland. They are feet
animal, and every traveller who has tarried long
about the cascade range will well remember how
he has seen them leap down from crag TO crag,
striking upon their horns, and bounding again
upon their feet with fleetness which no other
quadTuped can equal. The ladies have long han
dies fancifnlly carved in imitation Of g0ose's
neck and head, or the leg and ho0f Of the deer.
Some Of these ladies' viii hold three quarts. The
dart is a wooden shaft, FIVE feet long, rimm d
with bone socket at the end In this socket is
inserted an ivory point. sharply bMbed. When
the sea otter Is struck by the dart he dives. The
point is detached and being fastened to the shaft
by a string the animal drsgs the wooden missile,
TIL wearied he falls an easy prey.
Z" In each Of these native lodges are little coop.
ing apartments ranged along the walls, which
serve Al night for separate sleeping rooms, and
IN which the respective owners store their choice
goods Piled on the top Of these rooms are heaps
OF smoked salmon, game, skins, and q variety OF
articles, emitting odors most ancient and fish
like. Our entrance into their cabins did not dis
turb or surprise them in the slightest degree.
They were ready, but not anxious, to trade with
Us. Like other human beings, they are disposed
10 treat every one well who treats them well-st
least have invariably found this to be the case
when travelling among the aboriginal race Of this
coast. Now and then we saw an invalid in their
lodges, victim Of consumption, and showing the
same unmistakabe symptoms here as in the
Eastern States. Flintlock muskets are hung up
IN every lodge, for the Russians, years ago. fur
nished them with firearms 10 kill the wild fowl,
but never allow them to shoot fur animals with
the gun, ss the noise viii lead them to seek new
haunts.
husbands as among the tribes east Of the Rocky
mountains. They have less drudgery to perform,
and participate in all hunting and fshing excur-
eions. They have the hideous practice Of streak.
ing, ana someumes enureiy covering tner races
with black paint. At first was told it was
badge of mourning. but its frequency led to q
second inquiry, when found il was an ancient
custom. Their complexion is much fsrer than in
California, and shade lighter than in Minnesota.
Still, unlike the Onalaskan maidens, none Of them
have chubby pleasant faces. Some Of them
have married Russian sborers. and. proud Of their
association with the Caucasian race, maintain
strict fidelity. Yet these are exceptional in.
stances. In no native language on this coast Is
a VI IN "a Ia writ
10 Leffersnn il nlaxino In Memnhis