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is rather indolent, but his ambition for wealth and its inherent mark of 

 distinction makes him enterprising. They have considerable business 

 judgment, and it is a rare occurrence that a white man gets the better 

 of a bargain with an Indian of south-eastern Alaska. When first visited 

 by the early voyagers, these Indians, like all others on the coast, were 

 bold, arrant thieves ; to-day, however, this accusation cannot be made 

 against them. They have great respect for the aged ; between the 

 sexes the rights of the women are regarded, and they live on terms of 

 equality. They have considerable artistic taste in the use of colours, are 

 advanced in the arts of carving in wood, slate and metal, and have fair 

 abilities in drawing and designing. In the latter I found a marked 

 characteristic, and that is, the absence, or scarcity at least, of curves in 

 their designs, they being nearly all angular and rectangular. 



The totem poles one finds in the villages throughout south-eastern 

 Alaska are relics of the past. They are carved tree trunks, upwards of 

 thirty teet high, with grotesque figures which, in a measure, represent a 

 genealogical tree. A totem is simply an organization of consanguineal 

 kindred into a recognized group or band. The organization is based 

 on mother-right, (such as rank, wealth, property etc.) received from the 

 mother. The most prominent totems met with are the wolf, raven, 

 eagle, bear and whale. 



The practice of mutilation is older than recorded history. Man 

 never has been satisfied with either his structure or appearance, and 

 has constantly endeavored to improve upon both. However, at present 

 little mutilation is done. Occasionally one meets a woman with a 

 pierced under lip, a projecting plug being inserted into the hole ; and 

 also women with tatooed arms and hands. The most hideous practice 

 still in vogue among the women is that of painting the face black, leaving a 

 large circle around the eyes unpainted, thereby making the face most 

 repulsive. The paint consists of fish-oil and charcoal, and acts as a 

 preventive against mosquitoes. Another use is for improving the com- 

 plexion, and for this purpose it is efficient. I recollect seeing a squaw- 

 going off with a blackened face for some weeks on a hunting tour with 

 her husband ; after they returned, she washed herself and emerged like 

 a butterfly from the chrysalis, clean, fair and bright. 



