The Wrangell sentinel., 1922-10-12

l
 boat arrives, even if it be 1 o'clock on dark night. People are said to hang their clothing on the head of the bed, like the harness put in read mess over fire horses. Their harness is loosened from it's support and falls into place. The people hasten to the boat in all kinds of incomplete attire. The squaws, in a long picturesque row, decorate the sidewalk leading up to the principal buildings of the town. They spread out their wares before them where they sit, and have peculiar aversion to having anyone pass behind them.
 The strangest sight I ever saw on sea or land confronted me the instant entered the rather pretentious house of Shakes, the famous Indian Chief. His squaw who survives him saw on the street, and accompanied ' her home. The oldtime kingly resi- dence sits on an island, except at low tide, when it can be approached dry shod, over some flat stones, once probably placed The two grand children of the kingly pair had the key of the paddock and were paid an admission of 1.-two bits" After a mo- ticeab kindness of one of the young people, I had the misfortune to call this grandchild a nice. boy, and was surprised to have the young Indian reply, "I am a girl" I had then had two guesses touching the sex of the other native who stood by in overalls She too was "a girl" Young Indians are no better distinguished by their garb than are the Eskimos or the modern young women of the period when on excursion. At a marriage the clergyman had to inquire Which is the bride?" Now comes a new page in relation to relics. Each cor ner of the house rested upon an ar | tistically carved and highly decora ted totem pole. Here are the totem p-es that were erected over the bodies of ten slaves who were buried alive. Not so many years ago if any captives were taken in a fight, and the earlier Indians were always fight ing, they were made slaves. Indians fight only by ambush and surprise. More excitement was given to bu- rials and other public exercises if few slaves, who were we'll known, were tragically sacrificed. In this habitation which has come down from earlier generations, were great armfuls of old Russian guns. which did service when Alaska figured on the. school maps as Russian America. Here were ropes woven from the tex ture of cedar bark. Here was a very large resonant box which was struck at one place on the inside and it sounded like a big bass drum This helped furnish the music for the dance, for except for the music, per sons dancing would be arrested. Here was hat 300 years old. I tried hard to buy a remarkable, ex- actly carved human foot and leg from the knee down. I never saw a more perfect imitation than was here made of gun in wood, and trimmed and ingeniously colored.. This an cient dwelling showed a hole at the middle of it's roof where the smoke emerged. Exactly below it was the material gathered for fire. On the sides of the room were two elevations on which the many occupants of the residence sat or slept
 A chief among Indians does not in herit his position. It comes by merit. His distinction springs from the qualities he exhibits. His discern ment is unfailing. A great council was held near here. The chief and the missionaries and the representa- tives of the Indians attended, using great war canoe that would carry 35 men. As they returned by sea the conditions became contrary, and one missionary sitting in the bow, weigh ing 125 pounds, called to another missionary, weighing 200 pounds, seated in the stern of the craft, to pray. The Indian chief instantly raised his paddle in air. which meant to wait and exclaimed, You pray. Rip n naddIo