, 1877-09-07

'Tchen-kit.a-nay,' and as he mentions
the word very frequently in his mar
ration of the Sitka Indians, | am in.
clined to think he must have been
correct. am more inclined to this
opinion from tho fact that other
tribes are called by names different
from the tribal name. For instance:
tho Makahs' at Cape Flattery, under
the treaty of Nesh Bay. They are
called Makah, by the Indians of Pu.
get Sound, and Classett by the In
dians of the west coast of Vancouver
Island, but the tribe call themselves
Kwe-nait-che"chat 1t is an interest
| ling question in Ethnology, and Major
Barry has promised me that he will
investigate it. Capt. Marchand per-
formed his voyage during the years
1890, 1891, and 1892. There were
very few Indians at Sitka, the greater
portion being absent, fishing, hunt.
ing or trading with other tribes for
furs.
In one lodge saw large quaint.
ty of very valuable furs, which the
Indians told me they were about to
take to Fort Simpson to sell. sub
sequently saw the same Indians at
Fort Simpson where they had dis
posed of all of them at the company's
fort. This is . matter which needs
careful investigation. The mistaken
policy of the military at Sitka, and
the stringent regulations the Gov
ernment lays on the traders, drives all
this lucrative trade into the hands of
the Hudson Bay Company, and the
blankets they receive in exchange
for their furs are smuggled into
Alaska without the faintest hope
of the Customs officer at Tongass be-
ing able to prevent it.
Again,on the plea that the Indians
distilled whiskey, or rum from mo-
lasses, the commander Of the mill
tary at Sitka issued orders that no
person should be permitted to pur-
chase more than one pint Of molas
ses at time. But the Indians can
get all the molasses they want at
Fort Simpson, and of traders at vAri
Gus points, and to illustrate the alb.
surdity of this order, can state as
fact that schooner was cleared at
Sitka for q trading voyage among the
Indians at Takow, Chilkaht and
other large villages, with IS barrels
of molasses on board, and this only
q short time previous to our arrival.
The Indians learned the art OF distil-
lation from discharged soldier, who
commenced at place called koutz-
now, or Hootznoo, and smuggles his
poisonous compound into Sitka where
he sold it to the soldiers and natives
under the name of Hootznoo.
In a conversation with Major
Campbell, commandant at Sitka, he
was Of the opinion that the Indians
used only molasses, but | ascertained
that they distill spirituous liquor
from . ferment composed Of flour
and sugar. Lieut.. McComb at Fort
Wrangell, told me that he had seized
a mash ready to bs distilled, which
was composed of wheat. Another
officer informed me of mash com
posed of potatoes, and Marchand
states that in 1871, the Russians and
Alentes,, distilled liquor from the
roots of q species of wild lilly
called by the Indians "white wild
rice," from the rice like granulations
of it's tuberous roots, and it is well
known to all old traders, that from
time immemmorial, the natives Of
Alaska have produced intoxication by
= beer made from spruce buds and
other ingredients, which when old is
as strong as brandy. This beer is
called "quass." / was told by re
liable gentleman, that he had seen
and tasted OF very fair quality Of
liquor, which an Indian woman had
distilled from dried apples, and in the
berry season they distill a liquor from
the fermented juice.
believe great change would be
effected for the better, if our Govern
ment would adopt different policy.
Alaska has been declared Indian
country, and placed under military
control. Nothing could be more sui
cidal on the part of our government
as regards the development and set
tlement of Alaska. Every soldier
should at once be removed and their
places supplied by class of swift
steam cutters. The country should
be placed under the civil rule and
not the military, that deadly upas