Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-02-24
SLED JOURNEY IN ALASKA.


From letter from the Rev. John w. Chap
man in the Young Chri stian Soldierl
Early in February, 1891. | took a sled
journey to the villages In the neighbor-
hood of Anvik, to get pupils for the
school. | took Nicholas with me, rs
well as a man from Anvik, was gone
week, visited three villages, and brought
back boy from each. At the third
village, found that the more remote
villages which use a dialect of the same
language as that at Anvik, can be reach
ed by II river large enough to sail the
mission boat. The people at this vii
lage are somewhat more ingenious York
men than saw elsewhere, and seemed
more energetic. They pressed ne to
stay, and asked for missionary to be
established there, and it seems to me to
be a good point We remained here
three nights aud two days, waiting for
some men who were expected to return
from another village. They came on
Sunday, and among them was the boy
whom took from this place.
The men were eager to hear about
"San Francisco" falry-land to them;
but when described the government of
each city by chief who had his helpers,
AMI the great number of cities, and their
allegiance to one chief who was over
ALL and how new chief was chosen
every four years, there was q pause, and
then one asked, $40 they want this
placer Then had to use diplomacy,
and told them that l thought it was
so cold here, and food so scarce, that
it was not likely that many would come
and this also made an opening for tell
had the word OF God for them. | asked
them why they thought ! left my par
ents and friends to live among them,
and told them it was only because | had
Gods word for them, and that when
could speak to them WELL would tell
them; and that thought it would be
hard for some of them at first, but that
afterward they oud think it good.
had some difficulty in speaking to
them, because their dialect is quite diff
ferent from that of the Anvik Indians :;
and although they understand each
other perfectly, yet these men are not
familiar with my accent. l saw many
things which l would like to describe,
but hardly dare to begin. The life in
the Kashime, however, l think | must
tell you Of
They have a corner which is always
given to distinguished guests. You
spread out your mat in this corner, on a
shelf which runs all around the room,
and on which the men sleep. On your
mat YOU spread your deerskin and blank
cts; and if it is evening you light can
die, which you must take care to bring
with you, for these buildings are dus-
ky places.
Long before dawn they begin to wake
up. and MUNICH dried fish. One or two
begin to talk, and gradually they all
Join in. woman comes to the door
and says'that it is growing light. They
dress themselves, and roll up their
blankets, and some go out, others stay,
and when it grows light they make their
sleds, snowshoes, etc. There is nc
other meal in thee Kashme until even
ing.
Towards sunset the young men begin
to chop wood outside; the boards in the
centre of the building are taken up; all
goods are taken down from the shelf
and piled on the floor, and the boards
placed over them, and the wood is
brought in and piled in such manner
that it will blaze up quickly, and all who
choose to stay and take hot air bath dc
So. | did it, but did not like it, for 1t
seems to ennervate me instead of bracing
me as a cold bath does. 1t is raging
fire, and the building so hot as al
most to blister the skin. When the
cold air is let in, you think it is time.
After this the fire is put out, curtain
of sealIor whale intestine is stretched
over the smoke hole, and the men lie
basking on the shelf. Soon some
women come in with trays full of food,
which they pass to the men, and then
sit down on the floor while the men eat
a square meal and talk.
When this is over it is bed time. After
every one has turned in and lights are
out, story is called for. They called
upon me for accounts of life at home
and told them how iron is produced
and how shot is made, and then had
Nicholas tell them the story of Joseph
One man is bound to keep awake and
encourage the story-teller, but this story
kept several awake, though it was no
very we'll told, the deeper feelings o.
the characters not being well presented
After this no more stories were called
for, and we went to sleep.