Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-21
QUEG ALASKA PEOPLE.
Will Re Seen BY the Gold Hunters
IN the KIOndike.


IN the I<Iondike.
Along the coast of southern Alaska
dwell some very queer aborigines, as
gold seekers focl1ing to the Klondike
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 a peculiar culture
and customs unknown anywhere else.
Hence the exceptional value of a mono
graph about them prepared by Dr.
Franz Boaz, distinguished ethologist,
which is to be published shortly by the
RATIONAL museum.
These natives may be said to live
Hugely in world of imagination, mas
much 'as their customs and habits Of
living are based toa great extent upon
ideas and beliefs wholly supernatural.
Cxation, from their point of view, is
peePled by strange monsters and de-
mons, which, while morally hostile to
man, mary 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 u serpent which has
q head at each end of its body and a
human headin the middle. To 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 it's eyes, used as
sling stones, will kill any animal, even
whales. Another of these fabulous be-
ings is wild woman who lives in the
woods. She has enormous breasts, and
carries a 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
tradition that tells of a 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 stop to such practices, it
would seem that secret indulgence in
them has not been wholly done away
with,
Quite n number of strange demons
are worshipped as guardian spirits
nluong them a cannibal demon that lives
OH 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 a, fabulous bird, with an
immensely long beak, which lives on
tho brains of persons whose skulls it
fractures with it's bill. Anybody who
is so unfortunate as to encounter the
cannibal spirit may be transformed
into Il 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 a fearsome
warrior who lives in the far north. He
travels constantly, and never leaves his
canoe. By obtaining his protection a
man may become invulnerable, or he
may acquire power to catch the invisi-
bic disease demon. This demon is at
all time flying about in the air in the
form of a worm. The fortunate protege
of the warrior spiritscatching the worm
can throw it into the body of an enemy,
who will ietat once. The suggestion
of the modern germ theory of disease
contained in this belief is quite interest
ing. Not to be neglected among the
guardian spirits are certain ghosts,
which bestow the power or returning
to life after death.
d. Boaz has. secured'for the National
museum large number of masks, such
RS are worn by the Indians of the Alas
kan coast in. their ceremonials Some
otxthem are of enormous size and as
tonishingly grotesque.-Cincinnati En-
suirPr