, 1877-10-06

PUGET SOUND INDIANs.-We clip
the following truthful account from
an article in the Oregonian, which
applies equally as well to the de-
graded Indians who infest the Sound
country: The Indians along the
Straits de Fuca and the Pacific
around Cape Flattery live on the
fruits of the waters. They are by
trade fishermen, the nomads of the
sea. A canoe, q spear, net and
hook are their implements Of hus-
bandry. A blanket or q skin is their
clothing. A few dried roots, or a
little flour with oil and an abund-
ance of fish, raw or rudely cooked,
are their food in all seasons. In
their huts the squalor of such life,
infected with the foul odor of the
fish-mart and of unwashed bodies,
with the oil and CRIME of unchanged
clothing, offend the visitor and re-
pell the efforts of reform. With q
life long habit they love to dash out
through the surf and poise their
light canoe upon the billow by day,
and return to their huts at night,
like sea gull to his nest. In this
way they and their ancestors have
lived for untold generations. In
this way their children seem des.
tined to follow the fathers. But
since settlements, and cities, and
commerce, have made demands for
their fish and fur, and given them
biscuits, and beads, and blankets,
and cash in exchange, they have
bought more goods and boarded up
gold and silver, but they have not
changed their mode of life. They
ignore the Soil and have no industry
except with their paddle and their
fishing gear. Their homes do not
deserve the name. Their children
grow up in filth; SQUAT on the beach.
or in the smoke of their fires, eager
for the crude morsels of food, given
them to eat with their fingers. like
dogs clouching on the ground.
The MINsTRELs.- fair audience
greeted the Emerson minstrels last
evening, and the witty sayings Of
Emerson, Norton. and Cogill, kept
the house in continual giggle all
the evening. The ballad singing OF
Messrs. Harris and Davis was ex-
ceptionally fine. as were also the
songs and dances of Cogill and
Cooper. But the favorite act of the
evening was the ridiculously conf
cal sketch of "Blue GLASS;" with
Emerson, Norton, and Cooper. in
the principal parts. 1t was alto
gether the best minstrel perform
ance ever witnessed here. This
evening they give the last perform
ance, with an entirely new bill. The
company leaves this evening for
Portland via Tacoma, showing at
the latter place one night.
COUNTY FAIR GRoUNDs.-Mr. w.
N. Bell offers to the King County
Industrial Association tract OF
land upon his claim, just the other
side of Belltown. This tract en-
braces about four acres, beautifully
situated, on a commanding position
on the bay, with 200 yards of water
front. It is about one mile and a
half from Yeslel's wharf, over q
level road, and as we'll adapted tc
the purposes for which it is offered
as any selection which could be
made on the same terms. Mr.. Bell
offers to sell OH long time much be.
low the rates Mt which he sells tc
private parties. We hope the di
rectors will look to this matter.
INSPECTING. - The light house
tender Shubrick is now visiting the
light stations on the Sound. Capt
Dewey, the new naval secretary o1
the light house board, is on the shif
and making an inspection of the diff
ferent light stations on this coast
in order that he may personally in
form the board of their condition
and requirements upon his return
to Washington.
Mr.. A. G. CAMPBELL, of this city
who has been working for Torrance
Bros. at Dayton for the last few
months, was suddenly called home
on Monday last, by dispatch re
onesting him to come without de
lay, stating that his children were
very sick.
The friends of VIM. G. Hughes
a well-known printer of this city