Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-06
ABOUT ALASKA.
The Inhabitants II the Icy Land Are
Proud to 10 Called Americans.

Proud to 10 Called Americans.
Christianity and civilization, - we under.
stand these terms, are not making much
hsadway in our Icy possessions in AlAskA A
six months trip over this meagerly known
part Of the world has convinced Mr.. Herbert
Aldrich, now q resident Of Baltimore, that
our brother, the Alaskan Esquimau, has .
great deal to learn from his American COM
patriots to whom Russia sold this costly
province for a big lump OF gold nearly .
score OF years ago The Alaskans from what
Mr.. Aldrieh saw Of them, are decidedly inter
esting race. In social pecuharities, modes
and habits OF life they differ in no material
respect from their next door neighbor, the
Siberian, who inhabits the northeastern part
OF Asia. Except in language-and IN this
the difference is not great-they may be
looked upon as almost one peoples
Though living under different governments,
the Alaskan owing allegiance to the United
States and the Siberian to the autocrat Of
all Russias, both have the highest admira-
ton for tine Americans, and the most lively
detestation of the Russians This aversion
may be traced in great measure to business
reasons. The American merchant deals lib
orally with the Esguimaux, while the Russian
trader, who seldom comes among them,
squeezes them hard whenever opportunity
offers. On board the trading vessels where
the Alaskans and Siberians frequently meet,
the captains are often appealed to to settle
quarrels between them as to their claims OF
nationality. Both are anxious to be consid-
cred Americans, and often the commanders
of the ships have hard time to convince the
;r,L, mt f he eide nf tho ehrAif that
he is subject Of the car and not under the
protection Of the Stars and Stripes. The de-
cision is invariably received with sorrow by
the foored contestant, who, to thelast, claims
to be an American.
The Alaskans, as well as their brethren on
the Siberian borders, are indsea a peculiar
people. Their religious Institutions, if such
they may be called, have no resemblance to
those of any other semi-civilized race. Their
whole deology is comprised in good and an
evil spirit The good spirit they do not wor-
ship. Being good, they know be will not
trouble them, and inYocations to him are
considered vanity Of vanities. To appease
the evil spirit, however, is their constant
care, and to him their alterations are adj
dressed. They do not worship in temples
made by human hands, and it is in the open
cir that their few lamentations are offered to
propitiate the evil deity. The name by
which the good spirit is known is the same
as that Of the mastodon, remains of which
are found In abundance III the northwestern
part of Alaska as well as on the borders of
Siberia. Why this is thus, the Esquimaux
of the present day knoweth not. But this
coincidence of names suggests that, per-
ho,c Eooly in no tho
SHIPPED the mastodon as the personifica-
ton of strength and power and as the source
of all good in the physical world.
In the mythology of other nations some
thing akin to this may be found Though
the worship of the mastodon has ceased, the
similarity of names remains What lends
color to this superstition is a strange practice
which prevails almost universally in the
remote sections Of the country. Every Es-
quimnu ''to the manner born considers it his
religious duty to wear near each end Of his
mouth button or piece Of ivory, which, as
they protrude from the lips, are supposed to
be limitations of the tuslss of the mastodon.
Why this custom is observed or how it origi-
mated none Of the Esquimaux could tell Mr.
Aldrich All they knew was that their
fathers did it before them," and taught them
to follow their example. Some OF the old
people are discontinuing the habit among
their children. They want their children,
they say, to be like Americans.
The Alaskan has no day Of rest-no holy
day. He works from year in to year out.
OF the future all he believes is that after
death he will go TO some place where it is
not so cold as in Alaska or Siberia. Ee has
no tradition-no history. The more intelli
gent of the race keep diary, written on
pieces of ivory in hieroglyphics. They pre-
serve these while on their travels along the
coast, and by means of them relate their ex-
periences of the voyage.
Their language differs from that of the
Russians, as it does from the English. No
Slavonic or Latin roots are found in it. In
only one word is there resemblance to
either That is the word mamma for
mother The Films have the sane word,
which they write ''maemae," for mother
earth Baltimore American.