'Travels in Alaska 



and would be glad to have the honor of his hospitality 

 and friendship. With a smile of relief he then led us 

 into his large fort house to the seat of honor prepared 

 for us. After we had been allowed to rest unnoticed 

 and unquestioned for fifteen minutes or so, in accord- 

 ance with good Indian manners in case we should 

 be weary or embarrassed, our cook began to prepare 

 luncheon; and the chief expressed great concern at 

 his not being able to entertain us in Boston fashion. 

 Luncheon over, Mr. Young as usual requested him 

 to call his people to a meeting. Most of them were 

 away at outlying camps gathering winter stores. 

 Some ten or twelve men, however, about the same 

 number of women, and a crowd of wondering boys 

 and girls were gathered in, to whom Mr. Young 

 preached the usual gospel sermon. Toyatte prayed 

 in Thlinkit, and the other members of the crew joined 

 in the hymn-singing. At the close of the mission ex- 

 ercises the chief arose and said that he would now like 

 to hear what the other white chief had to say. * I di- 

 rected John to reply that I was not a missionary, that 

 I came only to pay a friendly visit and see the forests 

 and mountains of their beautiful country. To this he 

 replied, as others had done in the same circumstances, 

 that he would like to hear me on the subject of their 

 country and themselves; so I had to get on my feet 

 and make some sort of a speech, dwelling principally 

 on the brotherhood of all races of people, assuring 

 them that God loved them and that some of their 

 white brethren were beginning to know them and be- 

 come interested in their welfare; that I seemed this 



I 136] 



