The Alaska citizen., 1910-08-29
ss s;s ;s m s m ; s s; An Amateur Witch-Doctor wry@ W sa=.., ; ;

In the course of somewhat checkered career it has been my lot to fill some queer positions. but none more extraordinary than that describ ed in the following story.
 In the summer of 1908. having nothing better to do. was filling in my time by drifting the entire length of the Yukon river in the Yukon ter. ritory and Alaska l started at Whitehorse in a small boat. and eventually finished up at St Mich. ael, on Boring Sea. The entire trip took about three months, and. taken altogether, was very enjoyable.
 All along the banks of the river were Indian villages, and I stopped at most of them, prompted by curi ositH and a desire for knowledge must confess that the traditional Indian brave in his war-paint brand ishing a tomahawk around the head of some inoffensive "paleface" was conspicuous by his absence.
 Wherever | landed there was all immediate rush in my direction not to take my scalp, as might be sup posed. but in order to see whether l had any whisky to sell. What an In dian likes better than bottle of whisky is two bottles; and from all accounts the whisky that is sold tc the poor Indians is certainly queer stuff
 When the Indians found that | had simply landed to have look al l them or to take some photographs great was their disgust and the mere fact that l had no whisky ir my possession called down upon my defenceless head q choice collection of compliments upon my lack of business acumen.
 Sometimes l would appcase theil ruflled spirits by trading tobacco ol tea, for these are also special deli cacies of the Indian.
 On one occasion, however. my wis it to an Indian village was a wei come one at any rate, 10 part oI the population. l. was drifting dowl the Lower Yukon. a few miles below Nulato, and on swinging round [ high bluff saw an Indian camp about a mile below. l pulled over to the bank, and ill short time l reached the settlement.
 found the village to be quite { | large one, and after landing saw to my astonishment that the usua crowd was not there to meet me was rather upset al this, for aftel a fellow has become used 10 a tri umphant entry into village, fol lowed by a crowd. the sudden cessa lion of this mark of honor comes as a shock
 Having tied up my boat and climb ed the bank, l walked toward the village to find out what could be the rival attraction to myself l was Stil some little distance from the cam when my ears were greeted by 2 l chorus of grunts, yells. groans anC howls. If l was in a civilized c0un try" said to myself. I should swear that it was the annual pig killing; but as the Indians don't know the difference between Bo logna sausage and a ham sandwich it must be something else"
 As l got nearer to the village the noise increased in volume. and could hear the dogs lifting up theil voices in praise and thanksgiving as they helped to swell the appalline discord. Walking round a large spruce tree. I found myself right il | the center of the village and saw to my astonishment that an Indian medicine dance was in progress
 The natives were in a circle. dane ing as though their lives depended upon it. In the middle of the ring was the WitCh-doCtor. The natives were too excited to take much notice of me, as they were rapidly dane ing themselves into a frenzy. Step ping up closer, l looked about for the | patient for whose benefit the dance was being held There in the mid dle of the ring, screaming as though | it was being Scalded to death. was ar | Indian baby girl about five or six months old The infant was naked | save for a thick coating of dirt; and l it was easy to see that she was in l terrible agony. as she rolled on the ground almost tying herself into a knot Although my knowledge of ba bies is very limited, I at once jump ed to the conclusion that the child was suffering from bad attack of stomach ache or collie.
 The witchdoctor, who looked like a pirate, and smelt like an oVerripe | fish-barrel, was making medicine. | He was not giving the patient any