Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-13
Customs In Alaska.

The Indians in Alaska believe IN evil
spirits who live in the water, and send
sickness and disease among the people
"a belief to which the occasional disas-
ters caused by mussel or fish poisoning
have doubtless given rise. They hold
communication with these spirits
through their sorcerers, but do not wor-
ship them in any way, or try to propi-
tiate them with offerings. When Ko-
losh dies his body is burned, and rude
monument placed where the ashes are
buried. They believe that the spirit
lives forever, but have no idea of any
reward for virtue or punishment for
vice. According to their belief strict
distinction of rank is preserved in the
other world, all the chiefs being in one
place, the common people in another,
and the slaves in a corner by them
selves. Only when slaves are killed at
the funeral Of their chief their souls re-
main in eternal attendance on their mas
ter. This cruel custom was said to be
abolished under the Russian rule, but 1t
always has existed and is kept up to the
present day, though the ceremonies are
performed out of reach of the authori-
ties. Several cases of the kind have oc-
CURED since the transfer Of the territory
in spite of the vigilance OF the authori.
ties, and no wonder, as the United
States government has done nothing to
suppress slavery where it exists right
under the very eyes OF military rule.
When q child is born it is carried and
nursed by the mother until it is able to
crawl and MUNICH away on dried salmon;
then the scanty clothing Of fur with
which it was covered at first is removed,
and to strengthen its constitution the
child is immersed in the river or sea
every morning; but as their own parents
would be likely to yield to the piteous
cries Of the little martyrs to discipline,
this duty is generally intrusted to an
uncle or some other relative who stops
all weeping and screaming with liberal
application of switch. The children i'm
plicitly obey their parents at all ages,
and great care is bestowed upon the old
and disabled. Orphans are always pro-
vided for by the community, and fare
as well as any of the other children.
When young man wishes to marry he
first asks the consent of his parents, and
when that is obtained he goes to the VII
lage where his intended lives, and sends
proposal through some friend, and If
the answer is favorable he repairs to the
house at once with some presents for
the parents and relatives of the girl, and
then takes immediate possession OF his
new chattel without any further cere-
monies. A short time after this the
new Benedick pays visit to his wife's
relations in company with her, and If
she has nothing to complain OF then,
presents must be made to him and his
bride, exceeding in value those he made
at first. The Kolosh only regard rela-
tionship on the mothers side, and the
succession and inheritance are confined
to the female line. Polygamy is the gen
eral custom, and exists even among the
Christian Kenaitze, where it is tolerated
by the native and half-breed priests in
the families of chiefs. The wives often
quarrel, and stabs with knives and dag
gers are not of very rare occurrence.