The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-16
A i A S X A,
Special Treasury Agent on Alaska Terri
tory-What He has to Say Regard
ing Our New Possession

Colonel FRANK N. WICKER, Special Agent treasury
Department. SIS
SiR--ln my monthly reports to you many subjects
| were treated upon In the suppositon that ! should
| be able TO forward them TO you without delay. AS
those portions have now lost whatever of interest
they possessed at the time OF writing propose, in
the foregoing paper, to insert only the more mpor-
tant parts OF reports, made since December last.
AlrepOrts on the Aleutian Islands that have fallen
under my observation were mainly noticeable for
| their exaggeratons and Measurements of facts.
| noticed In my October report writer who set the
population of the Aleutan Islands as high 5000
souls. Captain Petronssi, former Onicer Of Gus
toms in the Territory, exaggerates stl
more and puts it at 10000, and Ko-
diac at 1000. Now. the Aleutian Islands
proper, including Zodiac, the neighboring
Islands, the ALASKA peninsula. and the Islands of
st. Paul and ST. George do not, all combined, pos
| sess population of quite 1850.
The language spoken by the Aieu;es Is not, as Is
generally supposed, The same throughout all the
Islands; thee are four distinct dialects. First Is
the zodiac dlalect, which Is remarkable for It's
respondence TO the northern Indian language. ana
| differs much from the second. The Fox Island dia-
lect, which Is considered by the natives themselves
! as a superior or noble dialect. The former Greek
BISHOP OF Sitka compiled grammar aud dictionary
OF this dialect, and translated into ii several books
| OF the New Testament. II Ia spoken In the Fox
Islands, the ShOnmaginski Islands, the Islands OF ST.
Paul ana ST. George, and by the natives OF Bnlkor.
| sky, on the peninsula. This dialect has many
| words in common, but differs materially from the
| third, which is coarser sounding dialect and
known as Andrenotrsk, and is spoken IN the group
OF Islands OF that name, two OF which not in
| habited-Atka and Amelia The Rat islands not
inhabited but serve as hunting places for the Andre
nofski natives. The fourth and last is the Bne la
lect, spoken In the Blijne ISLANDS, only two OF which
are naturalization ana Aggaton. This dialect is
not understood by the natives of other islands.
| The present condition OF the Aleute is far above
that OF the Indian. Coming as they lately do, from
under the iron rule of the Russians, they ODE
dent ana servilc race OF people, but at the same
| time very devout. The smallest settlement has It's
house of worship. They are OF mild ana inOiYen-
sive character and strictly honest, but morality
| among them is very low sons have been known to
cohabit with mothers and brothers with sisters
| Drunkenness. TOO, Is common. They make kind
OF liquor which they call 'quas5' from lour, water
and sugar, and get beastly intoxicated upon It, A
few OF the natives can read and write the Russian
language, and all can speak 1t sufficiently to make
themselves understood.
While the Aleutes are not wanting in courage their
| exploits In the "baydarka,n skin canoe
tthe proof generally cited by writers) are
no criterion. Tney have been accustomed to
these boats from their earliest childhood and
consequently manage them with The utmost
dexterity They are too the best life boats in the
world; when ready for sea not a drop OF water can
enter them. They never make long voyages except
inc mpany-thatis with two or more "baydarkas,'
aud in comparatively calm weather. Indeed they
| may be said never TO risk anything; fatal accl-
dents consequently seldom, if ever happen TO them.
IN bGildlng their houses the natives dig down be-
low the surface OF the ground for several lee using
the dTt and sods taken out 10 construct the walls
ieet high. The roofs are matched with straw. the
buildings are at nrst divided into two rooms, new
sons and daughters marry. Three or four families
often occupy one house. One room Is left in It1
ceptaCe for all rubbish in general; the other rooms
: are boarded up, and in these they eat and sleep.
and hunting. A good hunter will yearly secure
$1,000 worth OF skins. The natives Of each
village lay in, too, during the summer great quanti-
ties OF whale oil and blubber for the winters supply
botn articles being great staples OF food with them
Every settlement has kind OF chief, whom they
call "TyhOon." HIS authority depends entirely on
his popularity and in ali cases Is very limited. The
his poson for e Tne Female portion the
population do ali the domestic labor. They con-
snS o s na very nGy w @ eask hs
women OF Avoutanick Island particularly excel in
The following islands are known TO possess coal:--
Ounga, Zegada, Atka and AmchtKa. The old
Russian American Company had samples OF the Ze-
gdlda coal brought to this place, and their black
smith pronounced 1t superior to Ouaga coal, with
which he had before been supplied. The coal or
who have seen and examined it, evidently Of the
brown or Ignite variety. OF the coal OF Amchitka
saw nothing further than OF Its existence In guam
The above Information concerning Zegalda coal
induced me, the oath OF February last TO start for
that island. AS the natives will never make a long
voyage by single "baydarka," was compelled to
hire four natives and two 'baydarkas' TO make the
trip. I was delayed many days by storms. Tue
voyage in summer could easily be made in five days,
Journey was TO secure specimens from and TO make
an examination OF the coal bed, also made 1t
| history
trave! by ''baydarka," would take up more space
than Its Importance VIII allow. The storms, delays
and dangers experienced on this trip have taught
the lesson that while for purposes OF discovery no
better mode OF travel can be DEVISED winter Is not
the season to launch such crafts for long voyage.
In Doth going and returning was compelled to go
around the northern shores or Akoutan, instead
Of the shorter and more usual route to the south OF
that island. | thus avoided the narrowest part Of
with such force and was in such turbulent state,
as to render the crossing dangerous In such fTail
This passage, and it required all the skill OF the
natives to prevent accident. The rush OF waters
through the narrowest OF these passages is some.
thing fearful the roar can be heard for miles.
The island OF Akoutan mas no permanent settle
ment a few huts only being scattered over It. which
seasons OF the year for hunting purposes. IL Is I'M
possible TO imagine a more barren and wilder spot
than seen by me While sailing along the northwestern
coast OF that island. Near the shore surrounded by
snow-covered hills, rises mountain, with sides
as black as ink, and with an immense pillar Of
smoke rolling from. It's summit Below. and
nearer the sea- at the foot of high hill, is smaller
and extinct volcano with symmetrical sides,
whose summit cannot be over one hundred and
fifty. feet above the level OF the sea. From
its base "a cape makes out into Behring sea.
This cape Is formed OF solid rock, With perpendicular
sides, which rise about sixty feet over this cape,
the sides or the surrounding hills and along the
shores lie the blackened remains Of this small fire
mountain. The cape has particularly wild and
desolae appearance with its crest and
sea-worn caverns. Believing the cape to be name
less chrstened 1t Vulcan. The small extinct vol
cano was formed in the year 1S4S. In that year the
inhabitants OF Ounalaska heard heavy reports, and
at first supposed vessel TO lie Outside IN Distress
but learned the true state OF affairs when at night
the glare OF the eruption could be distinctly SEEM
Along the shores and scattered among the lava
| great quantities OF pomice are found.
The village OF AkouD and the only settlement on
hui an d Ll1M uhIr akaa