The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-03

-, Io5Un0o nvor4 ID tnA WORM. NJ Yakon.
which u navisabis Tor 1880 miles. Az regards
thsresourcss ofths country. Mr.. Pisrrcpont IVES
convinced By the testimony Of eyo-witncsses
that not only wers fur-b bearing land animals
likely to disappear with tho approach Of civil
ization. but that even tho soal fisheries. ut tho
present rate Of destruction. will vanish NJ no
distant epoch. But Alaska possesses an In
sxhaustible store Of wealth In fish aud lumber.
Alter Waiting the most important canneries
In Alaska. tho writer arrived ut the conclusion
that the catching Of salmon. cod. haiibut.
and herring would remain n profitable industry
for ages to come. In regard to timber. Mr..
Pierrspont tells US that the red aud yellow fr
abound. and It seems that the Alaska yellow
cedar which IL not only beautiful to tho eye.
but capable OF very high polish. Is likely to be
In greater request for ship building than any
other cedar known. It IL said that timbers cut
from the heart Of the lower part Of this tree will
outlast teak In = ships frame. In his voyage
up the coast the author Of this volume has oc.
casion to observe the superior advantages
which Great Britain will acquire for commerce
with eastern Asia as soon a. the Canada Pacific
Railway reaches Port Moody on the Pacific
waters which separate vancouver's Island
from the mainland. II appears that the
route for steamers from San Francisco to
Japan and China IL up the Pacific coast a. far
A. the north end OF vancouver's Island. and
thence westward. The northins thus male
10 nearly nine hundred miles. Vessels
coming to our coast from Asia make
the entrance into Puget Sound from three to
seven days before they get of the Golden Gate"
Before taking lsave of this book we should
mention that In his account OF the native popu-
lation Mr.. Plerrepont AYERS that slavery and
polygamy are still openly practised. There 10.
MOI n oh linz nfOpNn
ment Of justice In the Territory. and Mr.. Pierre.
pont himself witnessed an execution by lynch
law. That the Indian who was thus punished
for murder had been converted to Christianity
was. In the opinion OF white residents. some
thing more than q coincidence. 1T was." We
arc assured. Z" tho testimony Of all witnesses
whom We met that the Indian convert gener-
ally used the certificate Of conversion to obtain
gratuities or higher pay for what work he might
do that. with very rare exceptions. they had no
other idea Of the value Of Christianity. At Stks.
gentleman In the service Of our Government
told us that a young Indian woman showed
him the certificate OF her baptism and CONVEX
sion to enhance the price Of her vicious attrac-
lions. Never did We interrogate Q man.
whether missionary or trader. who did not
aver that. a. rule. the Alaska Indian was
destitute OF gratitude. that he appreciated no
kindness. that no was always treaoherous and
cruel. and was Influenced by no motive but re-
venge. fear. and the greed for others property"
In salmon cannery. at Pyramid Harbor. Mr..
Pierrepont saw q number Of Cinnamon and In
dams working together. II 10 interesting to
hear that but for the dress and pigtail We
could not toll the Chinese from the Alaska In
dians. 30 close was the resemblance Of feature.
and the color was exactly the same" There
IT, indeed. little doubt that tho natives Of Alas
ka came from Kamtchatka by way OF the Aleu-
tan Islands.