Douglas Island news., 1900-10-17
KILLIsNOO KINKS.

KILLISNOO KINKS.
 September has been rainy month. We usually have such pleasant weather here that we notice the rain more than where it rains most of the time and pleasant weather is a rarity. But rain here doesn't interfere with business, as it does in the states. The fishing boats go out just the same and returned we'll filled with fish. It doesn't interfere with the pleasures and amusements of the Indians, either. The past two weeks has been a great time among them; they have been potlatching and feast ing in great style at Killisnoo A tribe of Indians, from Howcan, southern part of Prince of Wales Island, near Dixon entrance, came to visit them. They brought some very fine large ca noes (new Onesl to sell. They brought as high as S2OO; others sold for $50. They also had some fine otter skins, four of which they sGid at the store for 5000. l heard that they make by hand fine mats out of bark They strip the bark in fine pieces, something in the same manner as they prepare it for baskets, but not as fine. It makes nice mat. You would be surprised at the pretty designs they get up, too. The tribe differs in many ways from the Indians here. One very noticeable feature Is, that they have red hair. Some are quite good looking, dress with good taste, and are quite stylish. There are between three and four hundred of them. Not that many came here; only about one hundred, think. Their chief was with them; he calls himself Capt. John Chief. He was entertained while here by Chief Jake of the Killis- noos. The Killisnoo Indians spent a good deal of money in fessting and potlatching them. The store there did a rushing business during the time they were there. In about another month from now the Indians that have been away fishing and hunting will be re- turning home, and they will finish the new houses they began before leaving here last spring, aud repair some oth CTS, and when completed there will be great feasting, potlatching' and dancing going on in Angoen, the village we are in, as we'll as KilEsnoo- Different tribes, from Sitka, Haines Mission, Ju- neau, and all the smaller places within a radius of 30 miles will come here. That is the way they spend their mon ey that they work three or four months for. But they have lots of sport and enjoy life far better than the white men. They don't worry about anything; they take life just as it comes from day to day; eat, drink and be merry. They fulfill that part of the Scripture where Jusus says: "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." Sometimes if you could see how little they wear, you would think they cared little what they put on. In very cold weather, snow on the ground, they walk around barefooted as though 1t was a hot July day. In cold weather, too, they will take their small children down to the water, wade in, and stripped naked, take sea weed and rub and wash them, as one might our children in summer It makes them zg 'h, they think. It does not always --,e that effect. Most of the children, and grown people, too, have coughs and pulmonary diseases, as every one knows who lives among them long. forgot to tell you that the name of the red headed Indians is Hidah Indians.
 MRS. c. D. VANHUEBNER.
 Killisnoo, Sept. 29th, 1900.