The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-24
SOCIETY IN ALASKA.
A FIERCE FeUD AND merry MAX
ING RECONCILIATION.


Sitka Dick slsshes Aux Jimmy Into Tat
tiers aud Bites His Nose on ON Account
Of Dusky MaidSn - Presentation 81
Blankets To Console Wounded Honor.
It will not be many years until tie print
tive habits and customs Of the natives OF the
north Pacific coast viii be a thing OF the
past Except in the far northwest, IN the
vicinity Of the Behring sea and the Aleutiah
Islands, the native dress has practically dis
appeared aud the white mans garb substi-
tuted. The native dance j. still observed IN
some Of the villages in southeastern Ainska,
but II oven Is becoming q rarity. In fact,
the Indians Of this section Of the territory arc
becoming far less sociable in their native
way, than they were a few years ago Now
and then one Is permitted TO see real live
Indian dance and festival On GasteaHneaux
channel, part Of the inside passage. on jhc
shores Of which Juneau is situated there i
Tarh village about two miles east Of the
town. and an AUX village about two miles
west Of it, Thee villages contain about 200
inhabitants, whose houses are close 70 the
water as they are in every other Indian vii
iage in Alaska The pathway from Juneau
is Immediately along the beach and hugging
closely the high cliffs
THE FIGHT AND THE FROLIC.
ii was wen known for many miles around
that Sitka Dick and Aux jimmy had had
bitter ieud on account OF a dusky maiden,
and that there had been good deal Of cut
ting and slashiDg about o. There Is no scalp
taking among these people, but where rival
ries occur respecting matrimonial or love
affairs revenge is taken By either biting OFT
the nose Or cutting and slashing the face 50
as to disfgure aud thus destroy whatever ma
two charms exist 5itka Dick had come out
Of this encounter much the worse for wear,
and bis face bad been done up IN heroic style
bv his rival As tia feud vas not one Of long
standing friends on both sides concluded that
there should be "A reconciliation. That meant
a good time and rollicking dance which
was more important than the reconciliation
itself Half dozen Of our white settlers
we're invited 90 witness the ceremony and the
attendant dance.
We were not provided with either car
riagcs OF canoes but had 20 walk down b.
the beach close under the high cliffs and then
take our chances OF the Incoming lido pre-
venting an early return. The festivities
were TO begin at Jimmy house in AUX and
end at Dicks So Kow kiake, the head nan
among the Auks, conducted Us first 10 jim
mys mansion, which consisted Of "A boarded
structure about forty feet square, with a
mere hole in the wall FOR door. IL was
lighted by only one very small window
There we found fifteen squaws, or klootch-
men, a. they are called ON this coast, assem-
bled for The dance \ siwash or male In
dian, sat in 4 corner on an empty cracker
box ready to beat the drum. \ fire had
been built upon tho earth in tho center Of
the room, in an open space where the door
had been so left for that purpose.
The women wore gaudy blankets and were
profusely decorated With feathers and silver
ornaments, such ~ rings and bracelets. At
the signal from the drummer they ranged
themselves IN a large circle about the fire and
began a swaying motion, keeping time to the
taps Of the drum They swung their heads
aud bodies from side 80 side ia unison, but
made no motion or movement whatever with
their feet While thus gracefully keeping
time they chanted a kind OF refrain that had
a sad and tender touch in it, and though is
tone vas that Of tie savage and barbarian
there was something pathetic In It's melody.
After the women had danced and cnaDted 10
this way for some time, about twonty mon
rushed in through the hole in the wall, aud
with a kind OF war wiioop began leaping aud
prancing around tho room on the outside Of
circle formed 10y tho women. After awhile
they hoped backward and then forward
many times leaping into the air and keeping
time to the drums.
The men were dressed in native garb, and
their long black hair was decorated with
profusiOn Of eagle feathers, which hung h
piumes down over the face. Some wore tip
pets Of feathers and birds down about the
neck. and all were robed IN singularly deco
rated chilcatl blankets, made OF the long
fleece Of the Wild goat. The only sound they
uttered while leaping and dancing was
sort OF grult
The Indians in dancing around the room
often made fun for themselves by coming
near tue white spectators, shaking their
feathers and down over them and then laugh
ing until the roof fairly cracked. When it
was time TO GO from AUX Jimmy's house over
10 iSitka Dicks to finish up the festivity
tall fellow, deckod cat with an enormous
white plume, led tho way and carried a
white handkerchief in his hand. The rest
followed in single file to the tap OF the drum,
each siwash chanting as be went along
THEY HUG AND ,>,KE Up.
Sitka Dick was sitting on a greasy cracker
box when the crowd entered He received
bis guests with sort OF q rough, grul grunt
and a nod, but did not rise, and there was 10
The rear siwash Of the file
bore a large bundle Of gaudy blankets, which
he threw down on the floor near the entrance. +
Sitka Dicks head was bandaged 50 that II
was impossible TO see even the outlines OF his
face. Before tho dance was resumed, how
ever, tho bandages were removed in order
that the crowd could sec the extent OF the in /
jurics he had received In the fray. This was
done for the purpose Of determining how
many blankets would he necessary to appcase
bis wrath.
What hit him heaven only knows, but be /
looked as Ii he had been monkeying with n
buzz saw while in motion. Men and women
stood still and chanted a refrain over him, I
then the drum struck up aud the dance be- (
gan again. In about fifteen minutes Sitka /
Dick rose from his seat and stepped toward /
AUX jimmy, his adversary, who had not 1
hitherto advanced beyond the door. Tho two /
then embraced with hug like that Of bear.
The dance stopped at this point; the pile OF 7
blankets was turned over to Dick, and in /
.pite Of his bruises he joined in the leaping /
and curveting which followed In about an
hour, when they were all tired out with this
,apering, they sat down on greasy cracker
boxes OF on the greasy floor and INDUCED IN
, feast which consisted OF crackers, cheese,
Tried salmon, all kinds Of canned Ineats and .
ruit almost without limit They simply /
,orged themselves with these dainties, and
when there was no more to eat the festiyity
anne 10 an end While tho DANCING OF men