60 ALASKA INDUSTRIFS. 



SEA LIONS, 



There is on the south side of the island a small sea-lion rookery, 

 where these animals number about 4,()()(). The greater portion of them 

 remain around the island all winter, or until the ice drives them away. 

 A great many are taken by the natives during this season for food, the 

 flesh being of a much finer quality and tiavor than that of the fur seal. 

 The skins are used by the natives in the construction of bidarkas and 

 bidarrahs (native boats). 



THE NATIVES. 



As is well known, the natives were brought by the Eussians from the 

 Aleutian Islands and were upon the island when it was ceded to the 

 United States. They are of a dark copper color, with long, lank, and 

 black coarse hair. The beard is very defective and never makes any 

 appearance until the man is well advanced in years, and then only a 

 few straggling hairs. Their medium height is below that of the 

 European, with a few rare exceptions. They are, like all semicivilized 

 races, uncleanly in their habits and persons, and during my first two 

 years upon the island it required a constant watching and teaching, 

 both by precept and example, to make them understand that cleanli- 

 ness in their j)ersons and dwellings was necessary to preserve their 

 health and prevent disease. They have not much gratitude, but are 

 kind and tractable and easily managed. They are good natured and 

 cheerful, at times slightly irascible, but are never cruel or overbearing, 

 except when under the influence of quas. They possess one trait of 

 character, I think, peculiar to themselves; that is, they never harbor 

 revengeful feelings. I have known them to express a dislike for a per- 

 son, but when he had left the island, perhaps never to return, they 

 remembered only the kindness they received at his hands and never 

 spoke ill of him. They are industrious, but not avaricious, and always 

 appear ready and willing to obey the summons of their chief or the 

 agents of the company or the Government. 



In their expenditures many of them are prodigal. This, however, 

 may be partly attributed to the voluntary generosity of the company 

 in providing for them comfortable houses rent free, furnishing them 

 with excellent goods from the store at reasonable rates, paying them 

 good wages for their labor, and supporting their widows and orphans. 

 This seeming indifference in making provision for their old age may also 

 be attributed to their knowledge of the fact that in the future either 

 the company or the Government will be obliged to support them. Still 

 I have always endeavored to make them understand that they must not 

 indulge in lavish expenditures, but practice economy in the event of a 

 change in their condition. 



They are all members of the Greek Church and appear very much 

 attached to their faith, which I have always encouraged, as I have found 

 that their church exercises a strong influence over them for good. 



The worst evil they are addicted to is quas drinking. This is a kind 

 of beer they brew from flour and sugar, and sometimes from a small 

 berry that grows upon the island. Tlieir educational progress has not 

 been very satisfactory, from the fact that they have an antipathy to the 

 English tongue, believing that if their children grow up with a knowl- 

 edge of our language and customs it will alienate them from the faith 

 of their parents, and they accordingly encourage the absence of their 

 children from the school. They desire that their children shonld acquire 

 the Eussian language first, in order that they may be enabled to read 



