The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-10-07
QUEER ALASKA PEOPLE.


in the I<IOndilSe.
Along the coast OF southern Alaska
dwell some very queer aborigines, as
gold seekers tlocbing to the Klonditc
region will surely discover. They do
the most Of the freighting across the
passes into the Interior carrying loads
on their backs, but their population dur
ing many centuries has been so shut
away from other tribes by gigantic
ranges of snow clad mountains that
they have developed Il peculiar culture
and customs unknown anywhere else.
Hence the exceptional value of mono
graph about them prepared by DR..
Franz Boaz, distinguished ethologist,
which is to be published shortly by the
National museum.
These natives may be said to live
largely in a world of imagination, mas
much as their customs and habits of
living are based to a great extent upon
ideas and beliefs wholly supernatural.
Creation, from their point of view, is
peopled by strange monsters and de-
mons, which, while morally hostile to
man, may be rendered friendly and even
helpful with the aid of certain cere-
monials of a quasi religious character.
For example the most important of
these monsters is Il serpent which has
a head at each end of its body and
human head in the middle. 70 touch
this strange monster these natives be
lieve is death. all the joints of the vic
tim becoming dislocated, but specially
| favored individuals are enabled to per
| form wonderful feats by wearing a
belt of it's skin, while its eyes, used as
sling stones, will kill any animal, even
whales. Another of these fabulous be-
| ings is a wild woman who lives in the
woods She has enormous breasts, and
carries basket, into which she puts
children whom she steals for the pur-
pose OF eating.
| One of the most remarkable of the
| festivals celebrated by the Indians is
carnival Of ghosts, which is held each
winter 1t seems to be derived from a
tradition that tells of journey made
by an adventurous individual to a region
beneath the earth, inhabited by phan-
toms The celebration itself is a mimic
representation of the visit to Hades
aforesaid, and the performer who rep
rcsents the submundane traveller wears
necklace and headdress set round with
skulls.
Cannibalism is very conspicuous in
the myths current among these people,
who have themselves been eaters of
human flesh up to a recent period. In
deed. though the whites are supposed
to have put a stop to such practices, it
would seem that secret indulgence in
them has not been wholly done away
with
Quite a number of strange demons
are worshipped as guardian spirits
among them cannibal demon that lives
on the mountains and is always en-
gagged in the pursuit of human beings
for his table. The smoke of his chimney
is the color of blood, and he has fe
male slave who gets food for him by
catching men and collecting corpses
In his house is fabulous bird, with al
immensely long beall, which lives OF
the brains of persons whose skulls il
, ! II itt vi Is WIN us bIli. any boN'N wiz
is so unfortunate as to encounter the
cannibal spirit may be transformed
into a grizzly bear. On the other hand
if he can please the demon, he may OBJ
tain power to handle fire without being
burned.
Another guardian spirit is fearsom,
warrior who lives in the far north. He
travels constantly. and never leaves hi
canoe. BY obtaining his protection ;
man may become invulnerable, or h.
may acquire power to catch the invisi
BILE disease demon. This demon is a
all time flying about in the air in tn
, form of a worm. The fortunate proteg
of the warrior spirit catching the worn
, can throw it into the body of an enemy
:, who will d lie at once. The suggestion
of the modern germ theory of diseas
q contained in this belief is quite interest
, ing. Not to be neglected among tn
T guardian spirits are certain ghosts
which bestow the power or returning
to life after death.
, D. Boaz has secured for the GAsiona
a museum large number of masks, sue
as are worn by the Indians % the Aias
4 kan coast in their ceremorials. Sem
] of them are of enormous size and rs
f tonishingly otesque.-Cincinnat Ell
- | nuirpr