Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-02-11
The Alaskan Tribes.
Mr.. PETRoFF's JOURNEY DOWN THE KUsK-


The Alaskan Tribes.
Mr.. PETRoFF's JOURNEY DOWN THE KUsK-
oKvM.
Census-Agsnt Petroff, who WAS sent by
Gen. Walker to enumerate the Alaskan
tribes. thus describes his journey down
the kuskokvim
The downward journey began with the
18th of August, under favorable auspices
as far as the weather was concerned, but
a single dav was all that the traveller en-
loved of such good luck, and thenceforth
one gale and rain storm followed the
other in rapid succession, making advance
impossible for many days at time. 1t
took - days to traverse 200 miles down
stream. After passing the first two or
three settlements, or the limit of Russian
trading operations in former times, the
natives are found in almost their primi-
tive state the wants and ways of civiliz-
ed men are unknown here-a few fire.
arms, powder and lead, and some tobacco
is all they are furnished with by the
traders, with whom they transact their
business, not directly, but through ma
tive middle men.
closely, each containing Il multitude of
people, their numbers on both sides of
the river within two hundred miles from
the sea aggregating $500, perhaps the
densest population of any portion OF
Alaska. They all live in underground
houses. in outward appearance for all the
world like the villages of prairie dogs Oh
an enlarged scale this similarity Is en-
-, xrha II lG ha
tom of men and women to crouch upon
the apex of themound-like houses stupid
ly gazing into vacancy, The "kiak" or
Esouimaux canoe, intended for one per-
son only, is in general use among them,
but in an emergency they manage to car
nv in one of these small crafts not only
their family of wife and three or four
children, but all their household goods
and chattels, the latter piled up on top
and nicely balanced.
The birch bark canoe is found still on
the upper river, but disappears about the
region of the portage. The tools and i'm
plements of civilization are rarely found
among the Innuits of the Lower kuskok-
vim. Even axes and hatchets are scarce
" ever seen. For cutting up logs of
driftwood OF other timber they use a
peculiar contrivancs or axe furnished
with a sharp blade of the strongest ivory.
The latter is lashed to crooked handle
and weighted with some heavy piece Of
wood Surprising as it seems they ac-
tuallv do some execution with this prlml-
tive tool. and in several instances the ma
tives. with Mr.. Petroff, discarded the use
Of the axe and cut mp the necessary wood
for the camp fire with thi. absurd imple-
ment and with the aid of ivory wedges
and mallet quite expedltously.
The salmon and seal furnish the staples
of food for all this densely populated sec
ton. The seal is hunted constantly with
spears and bows and arrows blythe young
men of the village They can he seen
here, there and everywhere on the main
river and its rsmified branches or sloughs
and creeks. The blubber of the seal Is
eaten fresh or converted into oil by rude
process Of reduction over fire The oil
enters so largely into the domestic econo-
my of these Innuits that, not only the
people themselves, but their garments,
their houses, their implements, md the
very country seems pervaded with it. The
habits of the natives are as filthy as those
Of the Yukon Innuits. They also prefer
fish when it is gamey to the fresh article,
and produce this flavor by temporary
burial in the ground.
HUMAN OFFERS.
As the traveller descsnds the nver the
people become more and more amphib-
ious in their nature their very dwellings
rise up out Of the water, and nobody
moves about except by canoe. A village
can be seen a long distance off III the
shape of a number of dots above the Wa
ter horizon. These little black dots cor
respond il number with the houses and
food caches in the settlements. They in
c--asn in size rs We approach, but not un
III ilniust there can We discover any foun
dation of solid earth beneath. The fire
arms among these people are SO rare that
the vast focks of wild fowl remain al
most undisturbed, and the traveller cal
purchase nothing but fish for his daily
sustenance, the swampy nature of the
country making it impossible to hunt
without great inconvenience.
The currency for purchasing food and
hiring native labor consists entirely o
needles and tobacco. The needle used by
gloyers, with triangular point, is very
much coveted by these people, and one o
days As far as it was possible to observ'
along his route Mr. Petroff discovered NJ
vestige of tribal authority among thes'
people no chief or Influential citIzer
presented himself anywhere to facilitate
intercourse with the wayward, childlik'
denizens of the tundra" One man ther,
is as good as another, and no man pre-
tends to influence anybody. Were it no
g. +l,a atcha oil
bestial squalor existing in this region i
might be considered the Utopia of tn
champions Of social equality and nihil
ism.
Everything about the little expedition
scantily fitted as it was, created astonish
ment and wonder. watch, II looking
glass, a compass, and above all a littl
alcohol pocket-lamp, filled these primi
tive beings with amazement, and earne'
for the census man the reputation of
sorcerer. The performance Of morning
or evening ablutions would attract crowd
of men, women and children, entirely
loss as to the meaning of the operation
they do not wash either themselves o
what belongs to them in the shape OF gar
ments. The men alone go through
steamipg process in their large "kash
lLlas OF udnce housss, buI DO water "a
cept their own persplratlon appears II
the process. Soap, of course, is entirel,
unknown. The common garment ls tn
''parka" or long robe of marmot skin
worn by males and femnles alike, bot
sexes wearing undergarments OF tame
skin, or, III rare instances, of cotton dri
of the same cut and pattern. We're
not for the existence of beard anon
these people it would be difficult to dis
tipgujsh the sexes at glance.