386 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



being given by using larger shreds. The only disadvantage in 

 using it is, that the nets and lines must be taken from the water 

 and dried frequently to prevent rotting. A stout line is made by 

 cutting a deer-skin in one continuous strip, about one quarter-inch 

 wide. The stoutest line — used in tracking — is made in the same 

 way from walrus-hide. 



The river broke up June 3d, and on the 8th five oomiaks left 

 the village. After an interval of two days, five more left, and so 

 on, the country not furnishing enough food for all to go in a body. 

 June 27th the arctic coast was reached. The river proved to be 

 about two hundred and fifty miles in length, and enters the Arctic 

 Ocean about forty miles to the eastward of Point Barrow. While 

 floating this distance, I procured two mammoth-tusks, weighing 

 about one hundred and fifty pounds each, and twelve feet in 

 length. Every spring the river rises and washes away the icy 

 earth forming its banks, thus exposing fresh surface. These tusks 

 are found firmly imbedded in the ice. Three of them were exposed 

 that season. 



I was detained on the arctic coast from June 27th to July 16th, 

 waiting for the ice to break up sufficiently to enable us to make 

 our way inside of the heavy ice to Point Barrow. The northern 

 shore of Alaska is extremely shallow and sandy, great sand-spits 

 being shoved up by the ice all along the coast. The beach is cov- 

 ered with drift-wood, which comes from the rivers emptying into 

 Behring Sea. In conclusion, the Indians of Alaska have been 

 reported as savage and treacherous. In my experience, I found 

 the natives of interior northern Alaska the most kind and hospi- 

 table people in the world. 



MANUAL OR INDUSTRIAL TRAINING. 



Br Prof. G. VON TAUBE. 



CIVILIZATION means economical foresight and the gradual 

 subserviency of present selfish interests to the good of others 

 in the future. True civilization begins only, then, when a new 

 potential factor is recognized as worth striving for, to wit, tho 

 coming race and its future welfare. Emotionally we revive in 

 our children ; economically we sacrifice many of our present grati- 

 fications to the development of the race. True educational striv- 

 ing aims beyond the narrow view of the future career of a few 

 beloved ones; it recognizes in the school -bench an economical 

 measure of social security more powerful and efficient than drilled 

 regiments, squads of policemen — yea, than well-organized dispen- 

 sations of charity. True educational measures, therefore, grow 



