The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-13


taking active part in the festivities. otherwise
would give you details. which perhaps would
interest your readers. Under the matronly eve of
the priests wife everything passed OFT pleasantly
and the programme was strictly adhered to. The
American Trading Company. rival institution to
the Alaska Commercial Company. has a small station
here. but their business does appear to be very
extensive one just now. The agent is Mr.. King who
entertained some OF QUE party very Hospitality.
There are about half q dozen white workmen about
the village. and perhaps one hundred natives. al .
Aleuts.
nLIoULIouK
In general appearance Hiouliouk presents moro
imposing aspect from sea, rather harbor than
from the land side It extends northwest to south.
east along the base of high hill facing seward but
looks almost completely landlocked harbor.
A long, sharp-sloped shinele beach runs along in
front and around the whole bay. forming a con-
venent landing for the kayaks of tho natives White
mems boats generally come to the Alaska Com
pany's wharf and landing steps. At tho northwest
end Of the village is the company's establishments
About midway southeastward is the residence Of
Mr.. Greenbaum, u substantial wooden house.
fitted up very comfortably. The priests
house near tho church is almost gay in
color. 1t is neatly kept and furnished.
1t seems the worthy pastors salary is paid by the
Russian government or church authorities. and that
with Prerequisites aud fees foots up the respectable
sum of 81. 900 per annum--not a cent too much to
induce any of average regard for the pleasures
of civilized life live in this out-of-theway plsco.
In connection with the priests fees 1t is worth men
tioniug that double wedding took place at the Rus.
sian Church the day arrived.
ALEuTIAN coUnrsHIp.
Two couples were made happy. The grooms came
down from st. pauis Island the steamer with the
intention of marrying somebody or other They
seemed Indifferent TO who their wives were
to be. and expressed their content to wait
until elderly matchmaking dame of
the village picked out brides for them.
The rule being. under the Russian Church system.
extend tho forbidden degrees Of kindred very far
in the direction OF cousinshp. and the people Of
this place to be closely rolsted to those of the
neghboring settlements. it is difficult sometimes
for young man aspiring to matrimony to find :
woman not in distant way related to him
The services Of some old lady who keeps the run Of
relationships called In and she selects eligible
candidate for bettcr-halfshp out Of tho number OF
disposable females in the villAge Tho man rarely
objects to the selection thus made and, as in this
CASE does not know who his wife is to be until he
meets her ut the altar.
'who are you going to marryr we ask the
prospective husband.
II don't know he replies. 81 havo not seen the
woman yet"
This happy-go-lucky style Of marrying is the rule
among these people. and am informed that divorce
lawyers have field here ut all because OF dssatls
faction arising regarding the bargains made. The
ceremony according to the Russian Greek ritual.
Candles ana crowns wero used. The ceremony was
long, but tho interested couples did appear to
be out of humor with it we had right to object.
Later in tho evening DR.. Amber and took walk
along the beach and met OF the couples enjoying
sum- We salutcd them cordially The looked
sheepsh enough. but the bride smirked as much as
the circumstances warranted
Rambes among the patched hills revealed
superb bits Of scenery. The combinations of land.
water and sky--green. blue and gray-were besuti-
full. especially where tho sunset glow tinted the
landscape with delicate purple haze. softening
shadows and bringing into relief certain bold OUT
lines that gave marked features the picture The
Doctor and sat u shoulder of the mountain look
ing the bay and enjoyed the sunset. We passed
hour specializing on what our friends 1T homo
were doing. With us it sunset with you
rise. could in imagination see New York svaking
to busy life. while below in the deepening haas
this lonely little village queting to sleep
1t with effort that left this charming spot
and descended again the level Of the sou and the
commonplace OF our lives.
coURrEsIRs.
cannot overlook tho kindness and attention
shown to us and the zeal with which wants
were supplied by Mr.. Greenbaum. representing the
Alaska Com mercial Company. Tho captain brought
with him from San Francisco letters from General
Miller. the president OF the company. directing
agents to supply us with everything that needed.
The coal that belonged to the Navy Depart
ment here. and from which expected to
replenish bunkers. had been drawn
upon by tho Gutter Rush. and besides
poor. that the captain avaed himself Of Mr..
dreenbaum's offer to give us what wo needed from
his stores We also got splendid lot of deer skins
for clothing, and many other necessaries. For any
little articles. such mitts and stockings needed by
the officers and men. pay would be accepted and
We feel individually and collectively indebted to
this generous company We prepare to leave this
hospitable port feature Of the scenery Of the bar
Dor s the grandeur of the bluff heads that surround
the entrance. Any Of these might DO made Glib
raltar and IL they situated home coasts
would render q harbor they sheltered impregna-
BILE. Grasses grow luxuriously on all the hills;
heath and mountain mosses of various kinds
on the upper levels. while the foothills glow with
the colors of hundred Towering plants. OF these
wc have made as full collection circumstances
would permit. and have preserved Thorn for future
classification. The geological structure OF tho island
10 mainly gneIss and granite with peculiar bikes
cropping out the scarps Of the hills fronting on
tho shore. Limestone occurs on the north side Of
the village and across tho anchorage bay and this
shows considerable capitalization In some places.
Some extraordinary detached rocks stand out from
tho cliffs near Cape Kaleghta, Of which I have
secured sketches Tho scale on which nature built
up these unent-like structures is vast and be-
wildering to tho unpractised eye. What looks al
first sight like ordinary bowlder pinnacle rock
grows approach to the size of q cathedral willis
the background OF cliff to mount to tho skies
and disappear in the drifting clouds Then the bays
that appear broad and deep. surrounded by pre-
cpitous cliffs. assume on examination tho unmis-
taxable outlines of crater forms--vast bowls. parts
OF whose sides have been broken down. leaving open