The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-30

III ROYAL BAKING POWDER co.. NEW Ycsx.
home OF the Haidas, who in many re-
spects are the most remarkable Of all the
Indians of the northwest. Among their
many peculiarities IL may be mentioned
that they are flares: in complexion, most
| intrepid naviga.ors. Visitors to the
| worlds fair and those who are familiar
| With the exhibits al the Field Columb n
| Museum will easily recall the Haidas
| lage OF Skidegate and the lofty, curious
ly carved tatem poles. Parenthetically.
| IL may be stated that in all the Haida
villages visited by DR.. Dorsey no better
preserved specimens of totem poles were
| seen than the three that now stand in
the south court Of the museum. And had
| II not been for President Ayers fore
sight years ago in securing these speci-
mems, the museum could not now boast
OF the three best specimens in existence
Owing to the possession of an exceeding
ly large and varied collection of Haida
| material, also largely due to Mr. Ayers
generosity, the chief object In visiting
these remote islands was TO secure pho
graphs and other ma terial relating 10 the
physical chara cteristics OF these people
After securing such photographs as SEEM
ed desirable at Massett, the party cruised
along the north coast of Graham Island
and visited in succession the abandoned
villages of Yam, Kuns, Kiooste and Hen
seillung. The sight OF these abandoned
villages painfully recalls to mind the time
when the now depleted ranks Of the Hal
das numbered thousands, and that was
before husbands and brothers took their
wives and sisters TO victoria and sold
them to the white men.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND SKELETONS.
FRm all Of these villages valuable
photographs and some skeletons were
taken. The villages about North Land
especially yielded large NUMBERS OF we'll
preserved skeletons.
Those who are familiar with Dixon's
voyages will remember North Island, in
whose vicinity Europeans first became
acquainted with the possibilities of luc-
rative fur trade. The fact that Dixon in
one day by means OF barter obtained
over 800 sea otter skins did more than
anything else to invite the attention of
Europe 10 this region.
OF the fortunate incidents about North
Island two are worthy OF special mention.
One was the finding of very rich bur-
ial cave which yielded very interesting
results in the way of skeletons. The other
incident was the finding of shaman or
medicine mans grave. This was on the
summit Of high egg-shaped rock sur
rounded by water. The summit was
reached by means of pine tree, when
IL became possible to secure the venera-
BILE DOCTORS skeleton and all his sacred
belongings. He will not be without COM
pany in his new nome in Chicago, for at
the Village of Kung the skeletons and
sacred belongings of four other shamans
were secured.
The departure from the Queen Char
lDtte Islands was made with as little DIFF
ficulty as the journey over was perilous.
for leaving at Massett at $50 in TIE
morning, the expedition by O'clock that
night had reached Old Tongass, dis
lance of eighty-eight miles. After photo
graphing the deserted village OF Tongass
the expedition went TO new Tongass.
Here it was hoped that there might be
purchased an chronological collection re-
iating to the Flingit Indians. for Ton
gass is the soutlernmost village OF the
Tongass nation.
CHANGES IN PRIMITIVE RACES.
The condition of affairs encountered at
New Tongass affords a good illustration
Of the changes which have taken place
with all the Indians OF British Columbia
and Alaska in the last twenty years, for
the village was completely devastated.
all Of rs inhabitants being absent. en-
gagged in work for some of the many cam
neries. This Industry OF all others Is do
ing most TO change the primitive condi-
ZION. OF the Indians and to lead them to
adopt white mans ways. The condition
Of affairs encountered at New Tongass
will be found to De the same, TO greater
or less extent, for every Indian village
on the northwest coast.
The Thngtts have had the custom. un-
Ill with very recent times. of burning the
dead. This held good for all classes ex-
cept the shamans, who, from a belief
that they would not burn, were deposited
with their sacred paraphernalia in small
houses. which We're usually bult on
rocky promontories and generally on
small island near the village. As con-
sequence the possession OF scientific in
sritutions OF Tiingit skeletons is exerene
" rare. DR. Dorsey had about despair
ed OF obtaining a single skeleton when
on rounding point OF Dukes Island one
of these curious dead houses was seen
high I'D among the cedar trees. The
house, when examined. was found 70
contain ne body OF u female shaman.
,osethre with all her professional belong
Ings. These were secured and photo
graphs were made OF The exterior and
interior % he dead house. together win
the desicca,ed body OF the doctor Sac
sill retained within her over lip labret
measuring three inches in length BY one
in breadth
The lab-e. was one OF ne distinctive
features OF rank among the Tiingits. az
well as The Haiias. and when % unusual |
size conferred especial importance and |
/ Ell 81