Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-12

ana AaSnlucEuf Scene-y-EeaSseo Dy =
Hospitable Indian-His Claim to the
Cou1tr-A Bad Indian and Family.
On the morning Of July we left Douglas
City on the favor!.e and fast sailing caroe
Hiak, Capt. jim (ootn well and favorably
known In Alaskan waters, FOR prospecting
trip in Lynn canal AS the day was tine and
the wind fair, the sail through Gastinaaux,
Stephens passage aid Lynn canal was de-
hghtful, as each one is dotted with little
islands, rising from the waters edge 20
height OF a thousand feet or nore, whilst the
mountains On the main land are thousands OF
fest high, with ragged peaks not unlike the
teeth OF an old fashioned cross cut saw, tie
spaces between tie peaks being 6Ned with
glaciers and the peaks themselves are covered
with perpetual snow. As an chee-chaco
IN the country that's what my chuuls call
me-, everything appeared wild and piStUr-
esque, and as burst ont N exclan,ations Of
admiration every once IN q while at the
scenery, they would say, ''Oh, shucks, that
amt nothing; you had ought 10 see the
scenery on the ukon.n
The first night we camped on creek about
thirty miles from Juneau, where our native
tod us there was some quartz We stayed
and examined it, but did not think enough Of
Is 70 locate it. The next day we arrived at
our natives illahee las he called it, situated
at Lynn Canal, and distant about forty
miles from Juneau. II is a beautiful bay.
filed with many Islands and teeming With
fish, from the mighty whale 20 the tiny her
ring, while the woods and mountains are fun
Of gaue-the small and harmless ground hog
ba To- ar,J
The Indian who accompanied US is a fine
specimen OF his race, as ne stands over six
feet in his bare feet. and weighs over 200
pounds. He is 4 Mormon il proclivities, for
he has number OF wives, who appear Wei
satisfied with him as their lord and master.
and l could see no sign Of the green eyed
monster. He is q bear hunter by occupation,
an enthusiast in thG1 line, and many were
the stories and hair breadth escapes he re-
lated l can well believe ne IS 6 good hunter,
AS his larder is well stocked with fish, feSn
and fowl; his wives wece brown, fat and
greasy; his dogs, Of which he had seven.
were all in splendid condition, and that Is
more than csu be said of most Indian dogs
He told US the pecuiarities OF each, and
showed Us the many wounds they had re-
ceived in the encounters with bruin He
also showed US the hole where he buried the
bears heads, and there must have been
twenty skulls in 1t. l inquired of him why
he did SO, and he told me, Bear all same In
dian; by and by he go TO the happy roofing
ground.
As host he is a prince. Srd right royalty
he treated Us 20 all kinds of game put up in
Indian style. We had smoked porcupine put
up II seal oil, and one OF our crowd who pre-
tends TO be an epicure said it was delicious;
there were seals fippers cooked in grease,
which were not disslmilar TO pigs feet;
baked ground hog stuffed with mussels,
which gave the hog fshy taste and in
proved the flavor of the musselS His bears
head cheese was actually immense, and there
were many more dishes too numerous to
mention. he showed many kinds of roots
and herbs good for food and medicine. He
also showed lis canned halibut, hooks and all
OF his dancing outfit His headgear and
mask cost him $50; 1t was wild and uncouth,
and was carved out OF yellow cedar. It had
large nose like parrots beak, eyes made
of mother Of pearl, mouth which contained
the teeth Of the only siwash doctor on Noahs
ark, ears made from the hide of the ichthyo-
saurus, hair made from the sea lions wins
kers. His hunting knife had some unique
carving on the handle that represented some
Indian myth the bears were afraid Of. Asa
prospector. like many more following that
vocation, 1 do not consider him a success, as
we examined many places that he showed Us.
but could see nothing except whIte and bar
ren quartz.
He had other places he wanted to show Us,
and we would have gone with him but ons
L. :
matory rheumatism The native told Us the
extent of his territory, and said he expected
white men prospecting o~l MS domain to pay
him 8. so per day for his knowledge and
services. He said the land and water be-
longed to his ancestors from time irnrnerno-
rial, and he inquired If white men owning
similar amount OF land would allow every
body on it. His argument brought fo-ciblv
to our mind the "bloated bondholders7 OF
America and the land question that is now
agitating the British empire, where lords,
dukes and ear!s are holding hundreds Of
miles square that their ancestors acquired By
might, while he claims his BY right The
only difference / see betwsel them and this
Indian is that be viii be glad to see you hunt
or fish on his supposed country, while If you
caught a trout in their waters or shot q
pheasant in their woods you would get about
five years.
So we parted with feelings OF regret, PROM
ising 70 return If the Hoouah springs cured
our companion We ran across two men
looking for fresh water. Just think OF it.n
M chums exciaiured, hunting for fresh
water in Alaskal They must be pilgrins
Ike yourself" The next camp we made was
On large stream, where We found en- Indian
and his family on barren point, exposed 20
the elements from al points He had TO
carry water nearly half nile. We Won
dered why he built on such bleak place,
but he was not communicative, 50 we cor
Guided he had committed some depreciation
on his fellow Indians and was continually
on the lookout, as Ice could not approach
him without being seen.
The next day we travelled against head
wind and q terrible rain, and after get
ting drenched TO the skin we campei IL
would be very pleasant prospecting in
Alaska were it not for the rain, hesd wind
and tides thick brush and uusquitoes, and .
few other little iDconveniences. Then, again,
Il was locking through q tourists eyes from
the deck OF en ocean steamer, how romantic
the majestic mountains and rivers, hundreds
o. miles OF pine clad shores, and every now
and then vast glacier, Then in smooth.
narrow channels can De sen tie mammoth
whale, forging his way along yearly as fast
Is the steamer. and every few feet can be
seea the shining silvsry sides q 3 beautiful
salmon, dispoTtIng, OF tryIng 20 escape from
se-us 6ray monster -Eo - trying 20 catch
hin for a H.eaL l saw q seal sobb.e ons II
less snSa two secon1A To ne TIE animals
CO such a Trip remind o1e Of great nas-
rss<rie, without kaFiaE to pay e. the door,
vsz,se the waters are grand aquarium; and