226 ALASKA INDUBTKIES. 



tinned with us, exceptiuij slight intervals, nntil its final departnre on 

 April 26, 1889. 



Tlic census taken January 1, 1889, gives a native population of 96 

 (males 41 and females 55); marriages for the year 1888, 2; birtlis, 5; 

 deaths, 18. During the winter the health of the people has been gen- 

 erally good. 



Wc have had three visitors from Unalaska. One schooner was seen 

 at two different times off Zapadnie, November 13 and 18, 1888. A 

 landing had been made, as we discovered fresh footprints on the 

 ground, and the window of the native house was found broken. No 

 serious damage was done, as there were but 12 or 15 seals ashore. The 

 seals took their final departure from the island on November 20, 1888, 

 and made their first landing May 5, 1889, on North Eookery. 



School commenced September 3, 1888, and closed April 27, 1889, a 

 total of 128 days. Number of scholars on the register, 30; maximum 

 attendance, 29; minimum, 15; average 26/2^- '^^^ teacher, Mr. Alex- 

 ander Lugerbil, can not be recommended as a very competent man for 

 the position, because it is my opinion he is deficient in the most neces- 

 sary qualification, the faculty to interest the attention of the children, 

 his apparent carelessness and persistent negligence. In addition, the 

 opposition of the Greek Church to an American school here prevented 

 any ])rogress during the term just closed. I very respectfully recom- 

 mend that in the future no teacher be employed to teach the school 

 who speaks the native tongue. 1 allowed the children a vacation of 

 two weeks at Christmas and a day whenever it happened to be a 

 national holiday, but I have not permitted the Greek or any other 

 church to interfere so far as my power could go to prevent it. 



The general behavior and conduct of the natives has been all that 

 could be desired. Only once have I had to punish any of them for bad 

 conduct. A box of medical stores landed at Zapadnie from the Alaska 

 Commercial Company's schooner Fcarl was broken open and the con- 

 tents taken out and the greater portion drunk by Peter Oustigofif, 

 Zachar Oustigoff, and Peter Eezauzoff'. 1 gave Zachar and Peter Ous- 

 tigoff" each fourteen days extra watching at Zapadnie and five days each 

 working on the road leading from the village to the cemetery. Pete 

 Eezanzoff lied, in addition to stealing, and I gave him ten days' work 

 on the road. Alexa Oustigoft', five days' work on the road. 



The most kind and friendly relations exist between the Government 

 ofQcer and the Alaska Commercial Company's agent and employees. I 

 have no hesitation in saying that the rules and regulations of the Greek 

 Church on this island are detrimental to the social and mental advance- 

 ment of the people toward civilization. The natives here built and 

 equipped the church and they pay the priest and support his family. 

 And yet they are compelled to send annually large sums to the Greek 

 Church consistory at San Francisco, which, under the circumstances, 

 is little less than robbery. The rule which compels people to leave a 

 close and warm house in the early morning of a cold and windy day to 

 stand in a church that has neither a fire nor any means to heat it should 

 be altered if possible, for it is the cause of more colds and coughs and 

 sickness here than all otlier things combined. The marriage law of the 

 church becomes an absurdity when enforced on this island, and is the 

 direct cause of much misery to young and old alike. The most distant 

 relationship is sufHcient cause to ])revent a marriage, and as the relation 

 of sponsor is construed by the church in the same light as blood rela- 

 tionship, it must lead to bad results on a lone island where the popula- 



