The National tribune., 1888-06-07
YAKooTAT

the garrison Of IS Russians and 30 or 40 Aleutcs
and Kauiags.
The dociIity Of the Aleutes was so great, COM
pared with the ungoVernable character of the
Cho0gatche and kOloshian Indians that the
Russians were in the habit Of bringing them
several thousands Of them-lrom their homes
at Atkha, Ooualaska, and the peninsula over to
this coast, rs sca-Otter hunters. The death-rate
among them was something frightfui, aud the
Russian traders naturally made as little Of it
IS possible. knowing that their records were
scrntinized at home.
The koloshiau head chiefs, after much con-
fabulatiOn among themselves finally agreed to
leave in reserve six Of their eight canoes, and
most Of their warriors, at AIaganik, while they
IN two canoes proceeded openly TO Konstanti
nOyski, and inspected the place under pretcnse
OF desiring TO trade and 10 visit their brethren,
the Indians or Prince William Sound, then
living about the post ia rancheries and scat
tered nuts. They sATewdly extortcd from their
captive Cb00gatcb the best course out from the
delta up TO the fort, and then left him behind
IN the custody Of the reserve, knowing well that
his presence at the fort with them would arouse
suspicion, even were he faithful in his vow TO
reveal nothing. The old women and children
taken az Alaganik were also carefully confined.
All the able-bodied men and women Of that
wretched hamlet were then far up the Copper
+ River, berrying, hunting, and fishing
The two largest canoes were selected, and
over 20 Ko0shiau warriors left the delta for
NOochek on this desperate adventure. They
arrived early next day and boldly landed on
4 the sand beach right under Konstantnoyski
/ As they hauled out their big canoes the Rus
+ sian pTcooFichik," OOvarov, challenged them
and demanded their reason for such an extra
ordinary appearance here, so far from their own
country To this somewhat sury interrogation
+ the cunning savages replied that they were only
/ desirOus Of meeting their Choogatch brethren
/ that they only wanted to trade a little with
I them, and dlspel a somewhat chilly feeling that
/ for many years bad existed between the clans.
! OoYaIOv
THEN GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO MEET
aud trade with the Choogatches in front of the
/ Bedoubt; whereup0u they at once inaugurated
feast and grand dance, an invariable prelimi-
nary, which lasted several days, before any
trading was done between district bands of
| Indians in the northwest coast.
During these festivities prior to trading, it
was the plan Of the Koloshians to pry into the
details Of the Russian management aud garri.
son, and then when familiar with the amount
and force Of the Redoubt to send for their re-
serve at Copper River, and, as il came up in
| the dead Of night, repeat the attack so success
fully made at Yakootatski. This bloody drama
| came very near re-enactment, but slight over
sight al Alaganik utterly turned the tables on
| these ciaboiical piotters; that blunder at aga-
nix which saved the lives of those Russians
and their retainers at Noochek was the care.
lessness Of the ambushed Koloshians who, in
tue first day Of relaxation from toll and excite
meut, permitted that captive Choogateh store.
keeper 10 escape. he slipped away from them