The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-01-01
CpRIoslTRs FnoM AI.asKA.


Senator Sumner some time ago in
dulged in speech in which much in-e
formation was given regarding the new
territory of Alaska, hat as he knew
nothing of its archaeological wealth.
the public has been compelled to wait
upon the return of Capt. Edward D.
Fast, late of the United States army for
passed nine months there, attached to-
the staff of Maj. Gen. JIG. Davis, and
during that time, with the assistance OF
intelligent and courageous soldiers,
made large and most interesting col
lection of curiosities, well calculated, ie
is stated, to illustrate. the history OF
civilization in our newly acquired ter
ritory, while serving to greatly puzzle
psychologists generally. According to
protested savants in such matters, this
collection of Capt. Fast proves that the
Inhabitants of the country in years long
gone by were advanced in civilization,
and that the present race has greatly
degenerated, for they are described as
being lazy, dirty, and ignorant in the
extreme. From an exchange we clip
the following relative to these Alaska
curiosities:
Capt. Fast has a very large collection,
but has only small portion with him
at present, consisting principally of
charms, idols, and ornaments for the
person, spoons, etc, mostly of ivory,
but some are OF bone, stone, malachite,
and here and there portions of amber.
There are specimens too of copper ore,
which, together with iron, is said to
abound in the country.
The most remarkable feature of these
curiosities is the carving, for the work.
manship is exquisite, and quite equal to
the finest accomplished by the Chinese.
There are necklaces of the tusks of
young walruses, ornaments for the hair,
made of the teeth of bears, carved with
various devices; portions of the jaw
and teeth OF sea cows, which have been
extinct for upwards of eighty years;
these with the other charms, are in all
kinds of indescribable devices. and bear
unmistakable evidence of having been
worn upon the person; indeed in many
instances the hair was found by which
they had been suspended.
The most curious articles, from their
antiquity, were taken from graves, to
disturb which is regarded by the Alas
kians as heinous sacrilege, and had
the persons despoling them been dis
covered, their lives would have been
sacrificed OH the spot. The graves are
not under ground, for in that country
the bodies are burned and the ashes
placed in box, together with charms,
hunting implements, ETC., and the box
stands on piles about three or four feet
above the ground.
There are in the collection, not exhib-
tied here, however, dresses of skins
sometimes of fish, and more frequently
of animals; there is one composed en-
tirely of birds, and all are beautifully
ornamented. But no such dresses are
worn now. The men merely wear
blanket, pants and shirt exceedingly
dirty the women wear blue blanket
trimmed with red cloth, dirty shirt,
and petticoat. A few of the men I'M
derstand a little of carving, but it is
rude botch, and the art Of forging is en-
tirely lost.
The only articles of use in the collec-
ton are some spoons, very black, evil
IDENTITY of bone, very large, and the
handles display the same exquisite cary
ing. The captain has several descrip-
tions of swords, spears, war clubs,
masks of carved wood, suit of armor,
with movable viZor similar to mod
ern ones; the masks are of the most
lrightful kind, and in battle, it is said,
were worn with the view of frighten-
ing the enemy, and we should think
they could scarcely fail to succeed in
doing SO,