Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-05
AIenf MunnIn,cs.

The last meeting of the California academy of
sciences was very interesting. DR.. w. III, Dali
OF the United States coast survey read an inter
esting report OF the explorations made by him
on the Island Of Unalaska, one OF the Aleutian
chain. In excavatng for the erection of sig.
nal on the island he found various articles
which led him to suppose that the locality had
at one time been Inhabited, and upOn CONTINUING
his excavations and researches he became con-
WINGED, by the character of the articles lound
that the theory was correct He unearthed on
the northern end of the island several ancient
Aleutian huts or houses, in which were found
three human skeletons in a state of perfect prcs-
ervation. The bodies were found doubled mn
after the custom Of the Alcutaus, and were in
separate compartments peculiarly constructed
and exactly like the tOmbs made by the Aleu-
tlans Of the present time. The doctor also
found number of relics in the subterranean
houses, including lamps full OF oil, stone
knives, bone spoons,l arrowheads buttons, etc.
CONTINUING his explorations during the winter
and spring, he discovered the sites and remains
Of seven ancient villages on the island. of which
only two were formerly known, even BY tradi-
ton. lie also made some interesting discover
les in regard to he modes of burial observance
By this prehistoric race.
lie says: In certain places at the foot of
overhangiDg cliffs, wall has been built M nm.
til the rock above was reached, and. outside
bank OF earth or turf covered this wall In
the space inside, the debris had then been re-
moved, and in thsSpace, on a layer of small
sticks of drilt-wood, the bodies had been laid
one above the other. In Que place | found six
skeletons, one above the other, separated only
by the layers of sticks and piece of gtass mat.
ting similar TO that stlll manufactured by the
natives Of Unalaska." In another place he
found small case about twenty feet in diane
ter through the creyices of which water was
dripping. Ia this he found the remains of seven
uman skeletons arranged around the sides Of
liSpOVpripc In tfg Btrf Io
sea, the doctor says: "Near one of the skee.
tons was found heaped together, number of
stone knives, bone awl, and two fragments
one oil pumlce and the other Of sandstone with
lhelr edges and surfaces smoOthed and squared
evidently for the purpose of dressing down the
aspeliues OF skins to be used for clothing
The most interesting collection was found
near Tue skeleton Of the woman, and consisted
Of Two Done laDrets shaped like those now in nse
among the Ihinkets and Bolocndos. These
are doubtless very ancient, as all traces of their
usage have long since passed away. There were
besides lot OF needles made of wing bones Of
birds, needle case made Of the humerns of
some large bird, closed at each end by a walden
stopper, bone avis, stone knives, a whetstona
OF fine grained sandrocS, and a little case of
birch bark containing plumLago. Neither the
birch, the sandstone, nor the black slate of which
the knives were made, nor the plumDago exist
Off the island of Unalaska. As proved by other
researches on the islands Of Kadiac and Uuga
the early Aleuts were accustomed 10 preserve
the remains Of their more eminent dead by re-
moving the viscera, stuffing the body with dry
grass and drying il. This was placed in some
dry cave, dressed as in life, ornamented with
gay apparel, and covered with wooden carvings,
the most remarkable of which were masks of
large size, painted Of different colors ald orna.
nenled with feathers, tufts Of hair aud bristles
from the deer.
a very great variety Of other carvings were
also placed in these caves and sometimes the
ooales, placed in natural attitudes, were covered
Vn'Hely WIN carved wooden armor, or placed
| N a miniature canoe or ddarka. armed al II
huhhug or Eoldlng a paddle Women are rep.
| Iebehied us II sewing, dressing skins, or nursing
lueir inl9htsi old men as if beating their drums,
US lhey 20 during the winter dances in Esgui.
nauX villages to this day But few Of these
remains exist In d well preseryod condttian ye,
| tle extent Of lbs practice inpy Je understood