The morning call., 1890-04-29
AMONG THE SEALERS.
Signs OF Civilization on the Fur s
al

Signs OF Civilization on the Fur Seal
Islands.
From CAPTAIN Charles Bryant's interest
ing account Of life "On The Fur Seal
Islands" in the Century, we quote as fol-
lows; 1t was interesting to note the diff
ference in character crop out as the conf
munity gradually took upon itself ciyiIiza-
tion. Some were naturally prudent, and
easily saved surplus; others would be in
debt at the end of the year. In 1877
small proportion of the number, perhaps
~ per cent, had invested about ten or
twelve hundred dollars with the Fur
Company; another 10 per cent were always
In want; the remainder spent what thew
received. The best paid class, the abIest
workers, received over S400 each for their
seasons work, and as they could obtain
large part of their food from the resources
OF the island without cost and received
their houses furnished rent free their
needs were few. To foreign ways in clothes
and fashions they inclined very naturally.
had brought to the island consider
able quantities of ready-made clothing
as an article OF trade, and the men
were consequently fairly wel-dressed; but
only small quantity OF cloth suitable for
dresses had been taken, and the women
had not begun to make their clothing iu
any regular form. But in time with some
assistance, their ready adaptabilty mads
them very well-dressed people. Before
came away the wives of those who had
been saving sent their measures to Sitka
with orders for silk dresses for church
wear, and the young men arrayed them
selves in broadcloth, wore gloves and we'll
blacked boots, and carried perfumed hand
kerchiefs.
''As my time was not fully taken up with
my duties, and good fortune brought to me
an abiding place of unusual size for St
Paul, seized the happy chance of making
my house meetlng-place for the people.
and especially for the children. Later we
fitted up schOOl-roOm, which we also made
place for social entertainment, and kept
the school open eight months in the year.
We were greatly assisted in our school
duties by illustrated books and papers sent
to us; for so UNMARRIED and barren was the
scenery of the island, which was all these
children had ever seen, that it was we'll
nigh impossible for them to comprehend
physical objects of the simplest nature
what mountain might be was beyond
their understanding, and the difficulty
Of explaining the appearance of a forest
to children who knew no vegetable growth
larger than the purple lupine on their
gentle slopes Was greater than one can tell
1t was necessary, however, to exercise the
strictest censorship in our illustrated les
SONS, as it was difficult for all to cOmpre-
hend carlcature even in its simplest forms;
even the most impossible pictures they be-
lieved represented facts.
b
families, and, as far as l could see, there
WAS no more immortality among them than
would be found in any decent civilized
community. The women were modest in
deportment. the children obedient and re-
spectful to their parents, and the men.al-
ways manifested disposition to assist me
in all my efforts.
I'm character they were mild and gentle,
with the expression of settled melancholy
habitual to those races which have no
amusements. In this respect however, they
changed greatly as opportunity developed
the merriment latent in their nature.
The children when first taught to speak
did sc, in a serious way. and the
utter absence of anything like hearty
laughter in a group of them always effected
me strangely. 1t seemed as if their avenues
of expression were closed to pleasure, and
later, when they had learned the simple
games l taught them, it was a great salts
faction 70 ii6 to near my rooms ring with
their merry voices. ----~-~