The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1898-01-09
POUNDS A WARNING.
atv. EDWARD MARsDEN WRITES OF
ALASKANS AND MINERS.

Besides the gold to be found in Alas
ka there are other things of absorbing
interest i'll that territory-plenty Of
them. There is the native Alaskan, who
has been sadly neglected by those who
have written concerning the northwest
region. An authority on the subject is
the Rev. Edward Marsden, who has
lived in Alaska since 1882 and has made
a close study of native manners and Gus
toms. Here is his account of his expert
enoes among them:
The native Alaskans, especially those
of the southern part, are a hardy, self
reliant, industrious and bold race. They
have great powers of physical endur-
ance and delight in athletics and music.
Before this century, when the Rus
slams came among them, they were
fierce people, and frequently collided
with the czar's soldiers. Their we'll or
ganized governments and their customs
and religious beliefs made it difficult
for foreigners to deal with them. But
today things are different. There are no
more well organized governments among
the Alaskans. What customs and beliefs
they have are relics of the past Chris
tianity and civilization have exerted
wonderful influence upon them. They
are at present in transitional period.
The country OF. Alaska and the North
west Territories of Canada are attracting
the earnest attention of the commercial
world. Since the excitement of last
July many thousands of miners and
commercial men have made their way
into that part Of the American CONT
nent. These newcomers are strangers to
the country and it's people. They are
ignorant of the inhabitants and the in
habitants of them. In some cases, be-
cause Of this ignorance, misunderstood
ings arise and lead to trouble and i'll
feeling. What, then, is the relation be-
tween the Klondike miners and the ma
tive Alaskans?
Alaska is part of the United States,
but though this is so it gives evidences
Of being country apart. The native
people there, especially those who are
not Christians, are therefore not closely
allied with the people Of the United
States.
mean by this that they are not we'll
acquainted with the inner life and
thought of the republic While they are
patriotic and think much of cold
Glory" and the American people, yet
they are in some sense foreigners.
With this understanding we need not
be surprised to find that large part of
Aha ,,ot;va 11o,1,,1a+ iO,, Sc oi+I,o, ind; for
ent or alarmed at the invasion of their
country by the miners. The prevalent
idea among them is that the gold seek
ers will do them both good and bad
good because Of the development Of the
resources Of the country and the many
blessings that civilization gives them,
bad because Of the evil influence brought
in by unprincipled men.
The miners are there already, and
thus far there has been no clash Of any
kind between them and the natives.
But if the excitement holds on and
more thousands of people come, and if
some of these newcomers are careless,
there must be friction between them
and the natives, which will result in
an appeal to the protection Of the law
or to breach of the peace.
To avoid any unnecessary trouble and
in order not to collide with the native
inhabitants of Alaska and Northwest
Territories Of Canada the Klondike min
ers should recognize and respect the
rights of the natives.
Suppose there Is a native Alaskan
settlement and gold is found near and
under that settlement. The natives do
not know anything about it. Their eyes
are not open to it. But strangers come
along and discover the gold. Without
any regard to the voice of the settlers
and to the rights of their possessions
the miners locate and record their
claims. By supposed legal process they
develop these claims at large profit.
The natives receive no benefit from
the discovery, and in the course of
short time they are deprived of their
property and elected from it by force.
What can they do but seek redress from
the courts of law? If that is not given
them, they will seek other methods
which may prove fatal to all concerned.
Again, the Klondike miners should
trust the natives and deal with them
honestly and honorably. The native
Alaskans can be trusted, and when once
their confidence is gained they become
good friends and remain SO under all
OF 'cumstanoes. We have had many il
lu srations of their trustworthiness in
the past.
The winter was setting in, and
trader vas leaving native settlement
on the Yukon river. He left his money
to native and said to him, "Take this,
and when the interior tribes come down
in the middle of the winter buy from
them such and such furs for me, and l
will try to be back here next spring"
The native got the money and the
trader returned to California. The ma
tive was uneducated and was not rich
He did not sign any receipt, neither did
he pledge anything The interior tribes
came down to the coast, and the native
bought the furs wanted. Next spring
the trader returned, and he found his
furs awaiting him. This is but one ex-
ample of many that could be mention.