CHAPTER XIII 



ALASKA INDIANS 



LOOKING back on my Alaska travels, I have 

 always been glad that good luck gave me Mr. 

 Young as a companion, for he brought me into con- 

 fiding contact with the Thlinkit tribes, so that I 

 learned their customs, what manner of men they were, 

 how they lived and loved, fought and played, their 

 morals, religion, hopes and fears, and superstitions, 

 how they resembled and differed in their characteris- 

 tics from our own and other races. It was easy to see 

 that they differed greatly from the typical American 

 Indian of the interior of this continent. They were 

 doubtless derived from the Mongol stock. Their 

 down-slanting oval eyes, wide cheek-bones, and 

 rather thick, outstanding upper lips at once suggest 

 their connection with the Chinese or Japanese. I 

 have not seen a single specimen that looks in the least 

 like the best of the Sioux, or indeed of any of the 

 tribes to the east of the Rocky Mountains. They also 

 differ from other North American Indians in being 

 willing to work, when free from the contamination of 

 bad whites. They manage to feed themselves well, 

 build good substantial houses, bravely fight their 

 enemies, love their wives and children and friends, 

 and cherish a quick sense of honor. The best of them 

 prefer death to dishonor, and sympathize with their 

 neighbors in their misfortunes and sorrows. Thus 



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