Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-10-28

From a report made by an inspec-
tor of customs to the collector OF San
Francisco, and published in the Alta,
we extract the following notes: The
aborigines are evidently of Monaghan
descent, but the Russian colonists have
LETT unmistakable traces OF their early
affiliation with the natives. A Rus.
sian colony was established here in the
latter part of the seventeenth century,
under the leadership of Baranow. They
commenced the seal fuf business inn
mediately on their settlement in the
colony, and have carried it on profita-
bly ever since. until the sale OF the
territory to the United States. The
language of the natives, SO tar as my
observation goes, is composed OF gut
terals, and smacks strongly OF the
Turkish dialect, though to a person
who understands the Russian it is
quite easy to converse with them, and
TO clearly understand their meaning.
The former Greek bishop of S,tka, and
present metropolitan OF Moscow, COM
piled a grammar and dictionary Of
the language, but they arc not taught
in any school. for the simple reason
that such institutions are unknown in
AlaSka. A lew OF the native halt
breeds can read and write the Rus
sian language, but not word OF Eng
ish, though some OF them speak the
latter sufficiently to be underst ood.
The character of the natives is mild,
obiiging, and OF course, very submls
sive, coming, as they do, from under
Russian rule. THEFT, breach OF faith,
even in the smallest matter, is almost
unknown among them, and person and
property are everywhere secure. The
Acuts, as the natives are called, are
laborious and Industrious, but need
the experience or knowledge to make
labor profitable. They are fearless i'll
remarkable degree, and exhibit a
contempt tor danger very surprising.
For instance, they make voyages to
sea as tar as five hundred miles in a
frail skin canoe "baydarka," Tor the
purpose of hunting the sea-otter and
beaver, and manage them with perfect
dexterity, rarely meeting with any Sc
rious accident. The female portion of
the native population do al! the do
mestic labors. They are skllltul with
the needle, and manufacture with very
primitive implements some very pet
ty fancy articles from skins, mem
brancs, and bones of animals, sea shells,
&c. They are anxious and apt pupils,
and readily acquire instructions. The
religion Of the native is OF the Greek
church persuasiono OF the Russian school,
but most OF those on the mainland are
pagans. They appear to be very zeal
Gus and obedient to their pastors in
all spiritual matters, but do not yet
realize the fact that they are part OF
these United States; III their Church,
which has always represented to them
their government and laws, they still
pray for the Emperor OF Russia, his
family and dominions. On my repre-
sentatlon to the priest of Unalaska OF
the improperly, rot to say sacrllege,
of not praying for the President OF the
United States as the present ruler of
the country, that worthy functionary
responded handsomely, but after pray
ing for the Russian Emperor as usual.
The organization of labor seems to
have been under headman, or Ia
jun," as he is called by the natives,
sort OF chief under the Russian rule,
who always commanded their services
when required, and who is still looked
up to in such matters; in fact, there
does not appear to be any other auth
ority on the island, so tar as my OBJ
seryation goes.