, 1877-09-14
rContinued from last issue.

There is q great deal OF sphagnous
or messy land about Sitka, which by
drainage can be made to yield good
crop. / found at Sitka whore land
had boen so treated that the season
was far in advance Of Fort Simpson,
although 50 much further north. On
the goth of June l saw lettuce and
redishes fit to eat, peas in bloom,
turnips and potatoes well up, and
currants and other small fruits look
ing finely. Collector Berry told me
that potatoes thrive remarkably well.
Last year he saw crop gathered
which averaged 8 potatoes to the
pound. Major Campbell informed
me that last fall QS74,) DR.. Fitz
gerald, the Post Surgeon, gave him a
roratoe which he, (the doctor raised,
which weighed two pounds. Major
Campbell had it cooked in his own
family, and pronounced it OF most
delicious flavor, and at Houtznoo
one man raised forty tons of very su'
perior potatoes, which were all sold
in Sitka. DR.. Fitzgerald, Major
Campbell and Collector Berry, also
informed me that they had seen tur.
nip raised last year in Sitka which
weighed eight pounds, and cab
bsge weighing twenty pounds.
When Sitka was first occupied by
Americans, We were regaled with
stories about crops. That potatoes
would grow no larger than ounce
balls and cabbage would not head;
but under a judicious system of
drainage, vast tracts of land can be
made to yield abundant crops. At
Sitka, l was successful in getting a
good assortment of India manuisc.
lures, from \ trader who deals large.
ly in Indian curiosities.
talked with the Indians in one Of
their houses in the village, and they
were very earnest in their entreaties
that missionary and teacher should
be sent among them. 1t is very true
there is a Greek Church at Sitka,
with fine chime Of bells, with silver
chandeliers and candlesticks and fine
paintings, presented years ago by
Catherine, Empress Of all the
Russians, but the present priests are
Alentes, who have no influence
among the natives. The Indians
told me they wanted "Boston"
(American) missionary, who would
teach their children to read and
write, just as the missionary does at
Fort Simpson. l promised to report
their wish to tho Indian Bureau at
Washington.
On the morning of the 23d we
left Sitka, and proceeded north of
Baranhoff Island, and anchored at
Lindenburg hsrbor near Chatham
Strait, where we remained all night.
The following morning we reached
koutznoo point and village, on the
north east side OF Chatham Strait east
from Lindsnburg harbor. We found
the village regularly laid out in
streets, lanes aud alleys. The houses
we're surrounded with gtrden
patches planted in rows we'll heaped
up to admit of drainage. Each gar.
den was fenced in, and each had mar.
row strips Of bark stretched across
from fence to fence over each bed to
keep off the crows which are ex
ceedingly numerous and great pests.
These wary birds however, are al.
ways on the alert for 4 trap or a
snare, and the strips OF bark make
them think the fowler has spread his
net for them, and they beep away.
This delusion is kept up by the In
dians, who hang up the carcases of
several dead crows in each garden
patch, tying their legs to the bark
lines as if they had been caught in
that position. II is simple and very
effectual contrivance. The Indians
raise most excellent potatoes at this
place.
Although most Of the tribe were
absent on . hunt, there we're unite a
numberpresent who beSet me with en-.
treaties for missionary and teach.
er, and | promised them, as | had
done the Others, that would present
their case to the Indian Bureau.
procured several articles of these
Indians, most of them of an ancient
date. At IL NJ, we left Koutznoc
and ran down Chatham S,--:.. iol
Kake village on the north SD. o
Kou or Koo Island. Here we re
mained all night. Iprocured severa
articles of those Indians who ram,