Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-03
AMONG THE CHILKATS.
A Thrilling Adventure with All
Alaskan Brown Bear.
ThsHTngenious Devices Adopted by North
orn Indians 60 Remove n Monster
Grizzly from a Log BridEs-Chnkat
Traders and Their Patrons.

Alaska our Arctic coloay, way of in
the northwestern part of our continent,
has a coast. line equal to that of all the
United States on the Atlantic and Pa
cific Oceans and Gulf of Mexico put to.
gether. All along the northern coast
and much q Behring's Sea the ice hugs
the shores. and here the polar bear is
found, never extending his excursions
very far from land upon the wandering
packs Of ice, and still less inland
Nearly all the rest OF Alaska is popu-
lated with the brown and black bears
In varying quantities, and ~ the brown
species intend to tell story which l
heard while travelling in that far-away
land.
II you look in your Alaskan maps for
Stka, the capital and largest town in
Alaska, you will see that il is on an
island. with many islands around it,
close to the coast Among the north
ern islands Of this long group and the
mainland, near by, is a large tribe of
Indians called the Chilkats, most war
like band not very long ago. Their
country is very rugged and mountain
Gus, and back inland little ways the
b Oh mountains are covered with snow
and ice the whole year round, the cross
ing Of which is attended with consider
a lie danger. Through this glacier-clad
mountain range the Chilkat Indians
knew Of two or three passes which led
them to q more level country beyond,
where another tribe OF Indians lived
that secure large numbers Of valuable
furs. These warlike Chilkats. however,
never allowed the white men of the
coast TO 60 inland through tie few
mountain passes and trade for the fine
furs that the Indians there caught, nor
would they allow these same Indians to
come through the passes aud trade their
furs TO the white men for such things
as they wanted. but buying trading
material from the white men on the
coast they put it in convenient sized
bundles. that they could easily carry
over such perilous paths as those of the
coast range Of mountains, and, gaining
the inland country Of their Indian neigh
bors. traded this material for their furs.
aud putting these again in bundles
carried them back to the white men, and
sold them 10 these people at good,
round profits, considering the mere pit
tances at which they had been secured
from the Indians of the interior. ANY
one. however, who has ever been over
these Alpine trails, as was the author a
few years ago, would think they had
q fairly earned their money by their hard
work in carrying the huge loads on their
backs over them. Sometimes they
made two trips year when energetic,
aud from this source of trade for years
they are the richest tribe Of Indians that
know.
in the heavily wooded country on
either side OF the snow and ice-clad
mountain passes are found the black
and brown bear. For the former the
Indians have no fear; in fact, they are
very eager 10 meet II in order to secure
the glossy, jet-black robe 1t carries
around with il and the meat which they
get for food; but for the big brown bear,
two or three times as large as his black
brother, they have the greatest dread,
and only hope he viii keep out of their
way when on their travels. The black
bear when he sees them coming seems
hardly able 10 get out OF the way hall
fast enough, from the way he breaks
through the brush and scrambles over
the logs; but the brown beast. II dis
turLcd suddenly, makes ferocious
rush on the person. and generally tears
him 10 pieces II not quickly dispatched.
II the Indians are in large numbers he
may run away. but otherwise is sure "a
back out quite slowly enough to suit his
own convenience. The big brown bear
OF Alaska is a great deal Ike the griz-
zly % tie far western part of our coun.
Try; IN fact, many Ia Alaska speak Of il
NJ the grizzly, and BY some it Ia called
the barren ground bear" owing "a
The great number Of times II is seen in
the large clearings caused by fire that
annually sweep away great tracts Of
forest lands
II was not many years ago chat q
small party Of Chilkat Indians had left
fhoif country nt the head OF Lynn
Chanrel, and with packs Of trading ma,
terlal OF their backs. averaging about d
hundre pounds apiece. had crossed the
koiusk Pass, the easiost Of the three IN
their country. and were making their
way down the eastern doclivity OF The
pas into The country Of the Tahkhcesh.
hef Inland tronsmontape neighb0ra'