ALASKA. 23 



room is not large, seldom over ten Tcct scuiaic, and often not 

 more than seven or ei^lit, with a hard eartlicn or wooden lloor; 

 the walls are neatly boarded npand sonuitimes papered and em- 

 bellished with pietures of chureh saints. In this room the Aleut 

 spends most of his time when not hnntinj^; shuts himself u^) 

 in it with his family, builds a, hot lire, lasting oidy a few 

 minutes, in the little stove or Russian oven, and either drinks 

 eup after cup of tea, or stupefies himself with "(/Mas.s" or 

 native beer, and lies for hours, and days even, in dull, stui)id 

 enjoyment on his pallet. 1 have looked into a barrabkie where 

 there were twenty men, women, and children packed into a 

 living-room not more than ten feet square, all drinking tea, 

 with the perspiration rolling down in beady streams from 

 every face. Many of these huts are damp and exceedingly 

 filthy, while others are dry and cleanly; but the temi)er and 

 disposition of the Aleuts is that of improvidence and shiftless- 

 ness, and all exist, with a few exceptions, as a matter of course, 

 in a state of ignorance, though a great many read and write, 

 in consequence of their relationship to the church, the services 

 of which are recited in the Ilussian tongue, and as most of the 

 subpriests, deacons, &c., are recruited from the ranks of the 

 people themselves, (the boys only being educated for this ])ur- 

 pose.) a large proportion of them speak and read Ilussian well 

 enough for all ordinary use. 



The manners and customs of these people, to-day, possess 

 in themselves nothing of a barbarous or remarkable character, 

 aside from that which belongs to a state of advanced semi- 

 civilization. They are exceedingly polite and civil, not only to 

 their trading agents, but among themselves, and visit one with 

 another freely and pleasantly, the women being great gossips; 

 but, on the whole, their intercourse is very quiet indeed, for the 

 topics of conversation are few, and, judging from their silent 

 but unconstrained meetings, they seem to have a mutual knowl- 

 edge, as if by sympathy, as to what may be occupying each 

 other's minds, rendering speech superfluous. It is only when 

 under the influence of beer or liipior that they lose their uiitu- 

 rally quiet and amiable disposition and fall into drunken 

 orgies. 



Having been so long under the control and influence of the 

 Eussians, they have adopted many of the customs of the latter, 

 in giving birth-day dinners, naming their children, *S:c. They 

 are great tea-drinkers, but seldom use coflVe. On account 



