The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-06-02
A STRANGE REPUBLIC.
The Funny Ways on the Island of An
neffe.

The Funny Ways on the Island of An
nette.
1t is thirty-seven years since Rev. Will
liam Duncan, the English missionary.
visited the cannibals of British Column
bia near the Alaska line and civilized
the tribe of Metlakahtla Indians Five
years ago, owing to an attempt of the
missionary society to narrow his work.
accompanied by over eight hundred of
his faithful followers, he removed to
the American island of Annette. off the
coast. and founded a republic that is the
talk of the world.
The venerable Father Duncan. as he
is known by the Indians. has not been
in San Francisco for seventeen wears
Many books have been written a about
him. Lord Dufferin, in the Encyclope-
dia Britannica. has told of his great
work in instructing the Indians. among
whom for years he carried his life in his
hand, and of his success in teaching
them the religion of peace.
Father Duncan is now almost sixty
years of age. lie has come down to
buy an organ, a chemical engine, some
lIiu>lllIlCIN. anu oGHSt
necessary things for the people of his
island
The island of Annette. on which he
and his followers have their home. was
given them by the United States. The
aged missionary holds position similar
to that of a president or governor.
There is a council of twenty-five In
6innS who 10 ln 1,,,,
are two consta bles, two men who may
be called on as aids to maintain order.
and an island guard corresponding to
the national guard, and consisting of
thirty-five Indians There are also a
fire company. steam saw-mill and a
cannery. The little republic is as pros
porous as any in the land.
The island is about fourteen miles
long and from three to four in width.
In the center mountains rise to height
of two or three thousand feet About
five-sixths of it is covered with gigantic
trees, consisting mainly of pine and fir.
The remainder is beautiful valley land,
much of which is level. Metlakahtla,
where the populace is centered, is sit
uated on a picturesque bay. affording
anchorage to the largest ships
Fort Simpson was the place where the
Metlakahtals lived thirty-five years ago,
when Mr.. Duncan first went among
them. They were then so barbaric that
the Hudson Bay Co.. which had a post
there, had stockade thirty-two feet
high, tlanked by cannon on each cor
ner, and twenty-five armed men inside
to keep guard. Mr.. Duncan staid
there five years, and by that time
gained such influence that he removed
them some distance away to the site of
the old Metlakahtla, where he remained
till he founded the island republic. The
old missionary the other day told of his
adventures among the Indians.
when l went among them" said he,
1.-THE Indians were cannibals, and were
sunk in ignorance and superstition.
They had an idea that to partake of
human flesh propitiated the spirits, and
that the person doing so was made
drawer and stronger. Only slaves were
killed and eaten. l remember MANY in
stances when cannibalism was prac-
ticed. One was in the case of a slave
girl owned by chief.
''The chief thought that he would
add to the rank of his daughter, so the
slave girl was killed and thrown on the
beach. At the stockade we heard that
the girl was dead and we anticipated
they would soon indulge in their feast.
Suddenly we heard series of weird
cries combined with strange singing,
and from our high gallery secure with
in the stockade we saw several bands of
from fifteen to twenty Indians each rush
out and 60 toward the beach.
"The leaders were stalwart savages.
They did not wear single garment.
They rushed along like pack of wolves
scenting their prey. They gathered
around the body. Soon the crowd scat
tered, each one of the naked leaders
having in his possession a portion of
the poor girls remains.
1.-THE Metlakahtlas had a custom of
biting and being bitten. They would
go forth at times with their arms and
other portions of their bodies barred and
suffer pieces to be bitten out of their
flesh. The women would fellow after
and dress the wounds. 1t was con-
sidered an honor to be bitten.
Sometimes we had the whole place