^Travels in Alaska 



snow that had fallen during the night down to within 

 a hundred feet of the sea-level. We made a grand fire, 

 and after an early breakfast pushed merrily on all day 

 along beautiful forested shores embroidered with 

 autumn-colored bushes. I noticed some pitchy trees 

 that had been deeply hacked for kindling-wood and 

 torches, precious conveniences to belated voyagers 

 on stormy nights. Before sundown we camped in 

 a beautiful nook of Deer Bay, shut in from every wind 

 by gray-bearded trees and fringed with rose bushes, 

 rubus, potentilla, asters, etc. Some of the lichen 

 tresses depending from the branches were six feet in 

 length. 



A dozen rods or so from our camp we discovered a 

 family of Kake Indians snugly sheltered in a porta- 

 ble bark hut, a stout middle-aged man with his wife, 

 son, and daughter, and his son's wife. After our tent 

 was set and fire made, the head of the family paid us a 

 visit and presented us with a fine salmon, a pair of 

 mallard ducks, and a mess of potatoes. We paid a re- 

 turn visit with gifts of rice and tobacco, etc. Mr. 

 Young spoke briefly on mission affairs and inquired 

 whether their tribe would be likely to welcome a 

 teacher or missionary. But they seemed unwilling to 

 offer an opinion on so important a subject. The fol- 

 lowing words from the head of the family was the only 

 reply : - 



"We have not much to say to you fellows. We al- 

 ways do to Boston men as we have done to you, give a 

 little of whatever we have, treat everybody well and 

 never quarrel. This is all we have to say." 



[ 118 ] 



