The Cordova daily times., 1919-12-02
STARVATION OF NATIVES IS DUE
 TO POTLATCH

that the natives impoverished them selves, this last year, after a season of prosperity, by giving native dance called Kuvgagyagag, in order to get reputation with other tribes of the district.
 The Quigillingok natives had made a good catch of fish in the summer, and in the fall, after the ice had formed, they further increased their food supply with record catch of tomcod. The previous selling season had been good and the catch of fur greater than it had ever been. The people were never better off in their lives, and being so well off, they want ed to make their reputation. Accord ingly the invited several villages to a play. Each individual wanted to out;;o some rival in giving. The wis itors went away we'll off, taking even the guns and traps of the hunters. Before the play was over storm set in and lasted several weeks. During all this time the hosts fed their guests and their dogs. Before the sealing season set in the natives of Quigilli- nok were short of food and reduced to actual want, many being reduced to actual starvation. The season was backward and if relief had not been obtained from the missionaries the entire village would have succumbed to hunger. The missionaries butch cred three fat deer, which, with 100 pounds of flour, the same amount Of beans and 25 pounds of prunes, were dispatched in two dog sleds to the starving natives.
 Thirty-two natives at Quigillingok were found to be short of provisions and starving. One woman was left by her sisters and brothers to die. She was unable to stand, and as she was in a hut that had no roof, water and slime were all about her. She had dry spot just her size-no food, not even water to drink. She said that she was waiting for the end. We left her provisions and hunted up her brother and made it plain to him that something not very pleasant would happen to him if he did not at once get his sister and take care of her.
 It is reported that many children were allowed to starve, which may be true, as hunger dehumanizes these people took one man who was Tar gone to the hospital, but he died Up to the time of my visit twenty-three had died at Quigilliingok and eighteen in the surrounding villages as a direct result of the shortage of food.
 The lesson of the whole matter is this: There was no occasion for thls situation; it was brought about by the play. Other people who did not have so great a supply of food stood the adverse conditions in good shape. Ouigillingok natives will have to work for years before they will get over the effects of this starvation. The dogs are all gone and nearly all of the huts are burned.
 MT Kilbuck says that the teachers at Bethel have to contend against the white mans dance, which is gaining in favor among the natives. The white men foster it and do everything they can to encourage it. The natives do not realize yet that they are paying dearly for their pleasure. The dancing craze has just come to Aniak, but the sentiment of the older people, we De- 1ieye, is strong enough to prevent It taking hold of the people to any great extent. After the teachers themselves had emphatically set forth the dan oars that go with dancing the natives themselves placed themselves on rec ord as being opposed to it's introduce tion into the village.
 The dance described by MT. kllbuck is as follows
 Before the beginning of the feast the givers of the potlatch or feast, dressed in their best apparel, deposit on the floor the articles intended to <be given to their guests. Each glver proclaims in a loud voice for whom the article or articles are intended, and then delivers it in silence. At the end of the distribution the spec tators divide themselves into four groups, one at each angle of the kashga, or ceremonial hall One of