Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-03-02

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SMALL ESKIMO VILLAGE NEAR ST.
MICHAEL.
peg over the Mackenzie and Porcrpine
rivers. Since the advent of the Alaska
| Commercial company another APP
proach is afforded. 1t is by ocean
steamer to st. Michael. thence by river
steamer up the Yukon.
In June, 1889, the writer was one Of
a party of twenty who started from
San Francisco for Northern Alaska to
determine the international boundary.
We sailed from San Francisco ON the
18th of June ON the Bertha. For tho
succeeding two weeks our experiences
were such as are generally incident to
a long voyage on the Pacific ocean. Our
voyage to Unalaslla was through as
barren and desolatc a waste as Il jour
ney through Death valley. A few
''gooneys,," as the sailors called some
birds Of the albatross species, followed
us continually to detect the drop of
every crumb. Other sea animals-por-
poise, nautilus, barnacles. some small
animals resembling Portuguese Men
of-war,' and up near Boring sea Il few
schools of killer whales and numbers
of fur seals.
On the 9th the captain announced
that the distant pale cloud TO port is
land His statement WAS soon veri-
fled by the appearance of bright,
snowy mountains both to the left and
to the right-ShOwing we We're headed
for Il pass in the Alcutian chain Of
islands. The rest of the day the most
enchanting views presented them
selves. If a section were taken from
Colorado's most rugged, snow-capped
range and placed on the middle of the
broad Pacific, the picture would not
do justice to the Aleutian chain. On
the left was Mt. Makooshin, the Vesu-
vius Of Unalaska. $500 feet above the
sea. On the right was mighty Shis-
halden. towering $500 feet-its SYM
metrical cone cnvclopcd in crowns Of
perpetual snow and its base washed
by the mad waves Of the Pacific and
the more gentle surf Of Boring sea.
Both to the cast and to the west was
island after island, peak after peak,
gradually turned into cloud in the dis
| lance.
We pass by Egg Island and "Old
Man" high mountain peaks, projecting
above the sea. and go through OnalgO
pass into Boring sea. An Alcut vii
lage ten miles to port attracts eager
interest the captain points out
Beaver bay, where Capt Cook retit-
ted his fleet in 177S. Mount Makoo-
shin was the first landing place of
the Russians under Stephen Glottav in
1857. By 1 in the afternoon we are
within twelve miles OF Unalaska.
Priest Rock" marks our position This
is one of those fantastic "necks" so
common in volcanic made lands stand
ing OF the sea slender and high. with
cowl and gown, in thoughtful attitude.
| UnalaSk;l is about as well known as
San Francisco was before 1S49. 1t is
the San Francisco Of the Aleutian
islands. AT tnal:,ska we are not VET
out of civilization nor out Of temncr-
ate Chimes Here the torrid and friyid
zones meet and barbarism and civilian
ton Shake hands. The japanese warm
current pays tribute to the cold of the
north III the form of raw fogS and
chilly rains. Here is to be seen the
first cryptoSamic plant life and the
tundra peculiar to cold climcs yet the
average annual temperature is about
the same as that of the middle states
and the emperor goose of northern
Alaska finds it warm enough for WIN
ter quarters
Cnalaska's little land-locked harbor
of Iliuliuk was filled upon our arrival
with men-Of war. revenue cutters, mer-
chantmen and whaling vessels
1t was the middle of the flower sea-
son. Variagated anemones, orchids
monks hoods, buttercups, dandelions
and daisies were only Il part of the
luXuriance everywhere in Drofusion.
Since his tlrSG contact with Russian
civilization upon the landing of SteDan
GlOttav in 17J7 the Aleut has under
gone Il change in language, religion
and dress. He is not improved. bur
he is changed. He still likes his fish
cod. halibut. trout. behring's and seal
and as a rule he spears his game in
the old primitive manner. He is still
at home in his underground barabara,
or primitive house. But he has also
learned to crave the canned foods,
bread and flour of civilization, and he
has not the least superstition against
living in comfortable cottage. burn
ing Australian hard coal and dressing
in imported cloth made suits. The
Aleut has inherited the qualities of his
ancestors. the wild Jnpanese-like ma
tives of 1850, and the habits of his
ancestors the Russian traders Of 1857
and later. These people are members
of the Greek church. Many of them
read and write the Russian language.
This is taught them by the priests.
The Aleuts are dependent upon the
traders for living. They are paid
fixed prices for their otter, fox, mink.
marten and other skins, and they work