Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-03-24
Alaska and the Yukon River.


Just at present of books of travels
coming from all quarters and de-
scribing journeys TO almost every
part of the globe. Naturally one of the
most interesting TO us among them is
Trovets 5Ja Alaska and on the Yukon,
by Frederick Whymper, published
by Harper & Brothers, New York I;
and sent by mail postpaid for.
This book gives a vivid idea of
many parts of our newly acquired
territory. The author passed
through the country with theRusso-
American Telegraph Expeditions, at
the time Just previous to the success
full laying of the Atlantic Cable,
when telegraph To cross Behring
Straits and thence to Siberia. was
not only projected but even COM
menced. Starting from England, he
went To California, and from thence
proceeded northwardly, visiting the
coast OF British America and pene-
trating as far as some of the glaciers
which cover the sides of its noun
tains. There were few white men to
be found in the region, and while the
travellers were there a large party
were massacred by the Indians.
VANcoUVER'S ISLAND AND ITS RAP
I'D RIVERS.
Some time was also spent III eX-
rlorine Nancouycr's Island, piercing
through its dense forests, or sailing
in canoes and RATS along its streams.
which were so swift, turbulent, full
of rapids and rocks, as to make the
navigation difficult. Coal and lnd1-
cations of gold were found ON differ
ent parts of the island. From VIC
toria, on Nancouver's Island, the eX-
pedition sailed for Sitka Sound, and
in early part of August anchored in
front of the town of Sitka, where
they were received with Russian
hospitality.
STRAITS RHEUMATIC CLIM ATE.
The town, which contains pow
about two thousand Inhabitants, is
a picturesque little place, lying on a
low strip of land on Sitka Island,
surrounded by snow-capped and
heavily wooded mountains, an ex-
tinct volcano on an opposite island
forming the great landmark of the
port. The houses are yellow, with
sheet iron roofs painted red there is
a Greek church with bright green
snire and dome; old hulks, used for
magazines, lie on the rocks at the
waters edge, and the antiquated
buildings of the Russian Fur Com
pany all give it quaint, original as
pect. Beyond the offices, the dwell
ings for the residents and employers,
and n few public buildings, come the
interminable woods. The thermom-
eter rarely goes below 20 deg. Fahr-
enheit In the winter, but the ram Is
constant, and everything Is SO per
tat Ina f.aNN
davs of fair weather are more un-
wholesome than the wet. Rheum-
atism is considered rs matter OF
course. Deer and bears abound i'll
the forests, and berries are innumer-
able. but the most plentiful of the nat
ural supplies is the salmon, which
seems to throng the rivers OF the
whole country. In the spring time
these fish are said To hc SO abundant
in the streams that they impede the
passage of boats, and a strong south
east wind will drive them on shore,
where they lie in piles.
Sitka is remarkable for one curious
fact it il the place where the tray
eller either gains or loses me day IN
the week. Every one knows that a
person going eastwardly around the
world, gains the day which IL lost by
one who goes to the west, and SItka
is the point at which the two reckon
ings meet. The Russians who have
iourneyed toward ii eastward
through Siberia, celebrates III as their
accustomed Sabbath, while the Call
fornian who has reached III by Il
westward journey across America,
finds the shops shut and business
suspended on his Saturday. Proba-
bIv, since the country now belongs
to the United States, the American
reckoning Will soon take the piace Oh
the Russian
After leaving Sitka the vessel pro-
ceeded north along the coast of Rus-
sian America, and then southward
along Kamtchatka. Here they were
again entertained by the Russian set
tiers Mt the various posts, whose hos
pitality is proverbial. The KANT
chatdaIes proper, are said to be a
good natured, harmless, semi-cIvll-
lied race, aud Eamtchatka Wild,
volcanic tract, possessing many
beauties, and we'll worth a tour OF
inspecting.
The coast of Russian America is a
faVorite refuge for whalers, ana
many of them were met IN The mar
bors by the telegraph party. The
natives near the shore are large,
we'll developed race, but demoralized
by the presence of the white men.
/ The Chippewa Indian, Mr.. Whym-
per saws, when asked if he is Chris
I tiap Indian, answers mo, | whiskey
/ Inien,r and the Tehuktchi might
safely say the same. They are very
4 fond of tobacco, too, and IN smoking
4 swallow their own smoke, falling
back completely intoxicated for the
| time being, after eight or ten pulls
at pipe. Their dwellings are made
of all varieties of hides fastened to-
gether and stretched over frames
[ 6uilt of the large bones of whales
and walrusses. Remains of under
ground houses are found, bat the
present race make no use OF such
habitations. In tiii5 extreme north
ern latitude they have no other way
of warming their tents than 10y blub-
hcr lamps.
On a second voyage many eNplor-
+ ing parties were sent on land from
/ the vessel, and the goodfellowship II
/ and community of goods which pre-
( vailed on board occasionally bore
rather heavily on individuals. Sew
eral people who had left San Fran
cisco with little baggage excited the
admiration of the natives by the
large collection which they took ON
shore with them. One OF the ie;id
ers "t AN exploring party said To ms
J men at the moment II Ia mt gol
/ time to tell lou all y0' want, out
I look round, aud take all you can
Z get.