The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-01-22
The Alaska Indians.

Among the passengers OF the stea-
mer ST. Paul, eleven days feom On
nalaska, were number of gentle
men who have spent some years in
the solitary islands adjaesnt to Alas
IA, where the great seal dsheries are
carried on by the Alaska CONNER.
cial Company. and from whom some
interesting facts were Ie rnet. TIE
islands are largely populated by na-
tives, who live in primitive 'iyls Of
huts called harabska. These rItives
are as dark as gypsies, here their
blood is pure, and have fees 4 the
usual Esquimau type
Their standard Of morality is low,
and serofulous diseases prevail They
drink a liquor made frcm brown su-
gar and an Infusion Of herbs, which
is more overpowering in is effects
than the most yillainous whisky, AID
are, however, much addicted % gas
bling when they have the wheregilh
TO stake The native tongue Is , cor
rup.ioH of Russian, bus the majority
have learned to speak very fair Eng
lish from their intercourse with the
employees of the company. They are
devout worshipers of the Greek
Church, and the restraining influence
of church and priest is Of inealeuls-
bic value
The temperature Of the islands is
quite cold, but without the sudden
variations which occur 10 the New
England States. The summer seas
on is extremely short. and the only
vegetable that can be raised through
out the islands is the rsdish, which
can neither be fricsseed, boiled or
stewed for change, but must be eat
en- in the simple, old-fashioned way,
however greatly tempted the culti-
vators may be to present some va
riety in the way Of serving their own
fresh vegetables.
Potatoes, onions and cabbages are
carried up from San Francisco, aad
the company transport every variety
of canned and dried fruits aud vege-
tables, as green peas, string beans,
green corn and asparagus are not
tasted from one years end to anoth-
eT, save in their poorly canned sub
stitutes, deprivation that must be
pa ti, ularly severe Ga Californians
Paui's Island, one Of the principal
seal fisheries, is q billy strip of land
about twelve miles long, with beau
tiful harbor, There about six hun
dred houses here, built BY the CON-
pany for tie natives in their employ,
and the company's house, a frame
building Of plain exterior, containing
ten or twelve rooms and a nice IL
brary and piano. much appreciated
by the exiles and visitors to this
lonely land. Mails are received only
about twice year, bot the tine is
passed pleasantly and happily, far
away as the inhabitants are from
politics aud fashion and Congress and
yellow fever.
Chickens, hogs and cattle are rails
ed by the company, but the most
stylish equippage on the island is aE
express cart drawn by 9 mule-Dont
the less appreciated, however. The
natives hera earn good wages, some
times making from 500 to $3.50 {
month, the four working moaibs in
the year Having the rent free
burning coal supplied by the compa
ny, and bIubber for lights, and sub
sisting chiefly on seal meat, they
may be considered very prosperous
They spend great deal Of money ir
clothes, usually preferriDg bright col
ors, but will throw a sack of biubbel
just as readily across their shoulder;
when clad in a gay new suit as il il
their working clothes.
The children are educated at q
school provided by the company, bnf
are anything but apt scholars. ex
tremely filthy in their habits sud diff
fcult TO manage. There is pretty
little Greek church 10 the settlement
and adjoining j. is small graveyard
with many graves simple wooder
eross marking the last resting places
Here lies buried a young fellow be
longing 10 the signal service dstaeh
ment, who died of exhaustion a shorl
time after be arrived at the station
! The cold during the winter is very
intense, but SO sabiIe that the victim
ID scarcely aware of its rigor before
be is overpowered.
During the summer months abou
one hundred varieties Of flowers
many very beau.ifol-bloon on the
hilIsides. The season Is so shor'
that they spring from the frozer
ground, bud. blossom aud mature il
an incredibly short time. Besutifu
sea MOSES are also washed ashore