Travels in Alaska 



sheep for meat, and for wool to make blankets, I have 

 been caught in snowstorms and held in camp until 

 there was nothing to eat, but when I reached my 

 home and got warm, and had a good meal, then my 

 body felt good. For a long time my heart has been 

 hungry and cold, but to-night your words have warmed 

 my heart, and given it a good meal, and now my heart 

 feels good." 



The most striking characteristic of these people is 

 their serene dignity in circumstances that to us would 

 be novel and embarrassing. Even the little children 

 behave with natural dignity, come to the white men 

 when called, and restrain their wonder at the strange 

 prayers, hymn-singing, etc. This evening an old 

 woman fell asleep in the meeting and began to snore; 

 and though both old and young were shaken with 

 suppressed mirth, they evidently took great pains to 

 conceal it. It seems wonderful to me that these so- 

 called savages can make one feel at home in their 

 families. In good breeding, intelligence, and skill in 

 accomplishing whatever they try to do with tools 

 they seem to me to rank above most of our unedu- 

 cated white laborers. I have never yet seen a child ill- 

 used, even to the extent of an angry word. Scolding, 

 so common a curse in civilization, is not known here 

 at all. On the contrary the young are fondly indulged 

 without being spoiled. Crying is very rarely heard. 



In the house of this Hoona chief a pet marmot 

 (Parry's) was a great favorite with old and young. It 

 was therefore delightfully confiding and playful and 

 human. Cats were petted, and the confidence with 



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