Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-20
LIFE IN ALASKA.
TENS FROM A GOVERNMENT EN-.
PlOYE'S NOTEBOOK.
Belief in Evil Spirits-Courtship and
Marriage = Bathing the Babies-Care
OF the Aged-Cremation-
Good Custom.
New York Times !

Il haven't been in Alaska sincs 1876, said
\ former government employe who was
Stationed in that country for several years,
but from all can hear the occupation Of
The land by increasing number, OF white
people la, not had the effect of changing the
customs of the country, in some portions Of
Il at least, T. any great extcnt- The Inti-
ans still believe in evil spirits that inhabt
the water, hold their slaves secretly, prac-
tice polygamy, and retain all their social
and religious forms AMI ceremo-
uies. They have their sorcerers repu-
iiate all relationship the fathers
siie, and live generally as they did under
the rule of the Russian. There are mussels
and species of fish In Alaskan water, which
have strong and sometimes fatal toxic quail
ties if eaten, which they frequently are.
Sickness always follows such indulgence.
and 1t was 10 uncommon thing. when
lived in Alaska, u see an entire kol SIX viii
suffering from its effects. 1t is this tradi
ton upon which the belief in evil spirit
who live III the water and spread sickaes
and disease among the people Is founded
They profess to hold communication wit
these spirits through their sorcerers, but
they offer them no sacrifices ami Use no
means to propitiate them
Marriage among these Indians is a pc
culiar institution; ill fact, there is no mar
riage-simply the taking of wives. When u
young Indian wants a wife he goes to his
mother ami tells her 50. II she give, her
consent he goes to where the lady Of his
heart i cooped up in her fathers house,
taking his next best friend with him
Through the latter he sends word to his in
amoratu that he Is near and would wed. II
she has a leaning toward the sutton she re-
turns word TO him by the friend that she is
inclined t. Join her interests with hi. He
then takes presents to her and her parents,
and having delivered them enters at once
into the possession Of his bride. There are
no further ceremonies. except that u day
later the couple must visit her relatives. and
if she then has no complaint to make to
them about her husband, they are given
presents and the welding is over. This may
lie repeated indefinitely, until Indian
may become as well-to-do in wives a
Mormon elder. Polygamy was practiced
even by the so-called Christian tribes when
lived in the territory, and their evolution
must have been rapid, from what l remem-
Der Of them, if they have abandoned the
practice.
Dried salmon is the luxury OF the Alas
kan Indians. and the children begin to nib
way they bring up children out there would
hardly nit in this region. The mother car.
ries her child about from the time it is born
until it is able TO creep, no matter WHERE she
goe-. Until that time ste keeps it wrapped
in a sort OF fur sack The moment the young
one show disposition to crawl she yanks
the fur of IF it, and then begins the build
ing up OF lis constitution This is done by
giving il a souse in the sea river every
morning, and the chorus Of yels that greets
every village during this interesting cere-
mony is something terrific. Ths cries Of the
young ones are piteous, and, for fear that
their maternal breasts might not lie proof
against these appeals for mercy. and thu
fail TO do tn, ir duty by their off-pring, til
mothers do not perform the bathing rlt.
themselves, but delegate some brother or
sister to do tie dou,ing. These conscien-
tIous aunt, and uncle5 vary the switch with
the bath in vain attempts to make the one
overawe the noisy results OF the other.
There Is one thing noticeable among thas,
half ciyIl.zsI tribe, AMI is credit,bls withal.
Their Old disabled members are carefully at
tenici t., AMI orphan become common
charge AMI fare the -ame aS the most lav-
orel chiliran with living parents. Ine-e In
dianS are original crematiuniSt1. Their
deal are burned As soon ~ ieltn eilsleSs
their asne; are inferred on tine spot, and a
rude monument erected over them. They
have cru 10 / ieas If immortality. believing
that a man has >pirit that live forever,
but ihev know nothing Of future rewards or
paEisiir:Ient~ Their heaven i, place
whrre tie: spirits of birds congregate .n ono
place the common people by them elves.
ami -layes, /. there are any, nave st an.
other dwelling place, Gnle-s 4 chiefs slave
should HE with ii.in an then his spirit will
b. il cternai i,ten iauc., "n his master 1t
WAS .urina!Iy tae universal custom 70 kill
the ~iaV. U;-n Ia, ma ter dIei To la ur., the
iI.t'rs spirit pr ,par Attendance That Gus
t,;n was al,'.-Iel 10y the Russian govern
ment, Lut 1; w, stIl kept IN in i,olit d
places, and eases where il has beea followed
were well known a, late AZ 1876
Some of the Indian tribe, notably the
kanaitZ., travelling from place u place
hunting, fishing. have the very excellent
habit Of leaving behind them when they
break camp quantity Of kindlins material
at each fire place FOR the u, of the next
travellers vino come along. aud who may
possibly not b, oversuIplei with thi, very
n-cCs aiy item in their outfit This kntl n,
con>is OF some pitch pm. AMI some dry
mos and sticks all wrapped up III IA curl OF
birch oar.,. The Traveller who use, this and
does not leave some for the next one who
coIn,, along, is sadly deficient in the ot.
.letIc IF ALASKAN travel.