22 ALASKA. 



part of tbe Russians to save them for tlie prosecution of tbe fur- 

 trade, lu 1834 they numbered only about 4,000, Kodiak in- 

 ckided, and tberefore they bave not diminished nor increased 

 to any noteworthy degree durinjij the last forty years. There 

 has been a slight increase, if any, up to tbe present time. 



When first discovered they were living in large " yourtfi^^ or 

 '•'• oo-lmja-muh^'' bouses partially underground, which resemble 

 very much such a structure as our farmers put up for a root- 

 cellar, with tbe difference only of having the entrance through 

 a bole in tbe top, going in and out on a rude ladder or notched 

 timber post. Some of these yourts were very large, as shown 

 by the ruins to-day ; one on Oonimak Island, north side, is 

 over 500 feet in length, with corresponding width, and one at 

 Koshegan, Ounalashka Island, tbe foundations still standing, 

 shows that it was 87 yards long and 40 wide; and an old 

 woman who was living only two years ago, remembered when 

 her people lived there, and called it "a handsome house." In 

 these yourts they lived by forties, fifties, and hundreds as a 

 single family, with the double object of protection and warmth, 

 where fuel was so scarce and precious. 



For a full account of them as they existed when first visited 

 by tbe Eussian priests I can do no better than call attention to 

 the history of their lives and condition, as published by Father 

 Yeniaminov,* a noble missionary, and who made good use of bis 

 time in recording faithfully tbe custom of a people which has 

 been entirely changed by Christianity in less than one hundred 

 years. As an illustration, showing how exceedingly supersti- 

 tious they were in these early days, I may mention that there 

 is a small stream running into the northwest bead of Beaver 

 Bay, Ounalasbka Island, forming a very pretty little water- 

 fall, and near by it is a large mass of dark basaltic rock ; tbe 

 water of this creek the Aleuts never dared to drink for fear of 

 instant death, and to the stone they paid homage, and revered 

 it as a devil petrified. 



As they are living at this time, nearly every family is in 

 possession of a but or " hnrrabkie,^^ built partly underground, 

 walled up on tbe sides, and roofed over with dirt and sod ; a 

 small window placed at one end, and a low door at the other, 

 which opens into a low, dark alley, which in turn communi- 

 cates with the living-room by another small door. This living- 



* A translation is x)ul>lisbe(l in Alaska and its Resources, W. H. Dull : Lee 



&, Sbepartl, 1870. 



