ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 303 



THE ISLANDS OF ST. LAWRENCE AND ST. MATTHEW. 



These two large islands, lying in Bering Sea, are a part of the terri- 

 tory purchased from liussia by the United States. Though discovered 

 and named by Bering in 1728-1741, and repeatedly visited since by ex- 

 plorers, traders, and whalers, so little had been put on record concern- 

 ing them that no correct idea could be formed of their character and 

 value. Their comj^arative unimportance is probably the reason for this. 



The larger ot the two, St. Lawrence, lies first south of Bering Strait, 

 in latitude (its southwest point) 03° 23' i^., and longitude 120° 35' W. 

 It is about 90 miles long, and has an average width of 15 miles. 

 The surface is irregular and broken, consisting of hills connected by 

 low, flat plains, which are but a few feet above the level of the sea. 

 Both the ranges of hills and the lowland extend entirely across the 

 island from north to south ; hence, when approached from either direc- 

 tion, the latter are not seen at first, and the land has the appearance 

 of being several separate islands. Captain Cook, who discovered it in 

 1778, was thus deceived, and as he did not sail near enough afterwards 

 to discover his mistake gave the supposed group the name of Cleaks 

 Islands. There are no harbors, but good anchorage can be found at 

 several points, with from 6 to 11 fathoms of water, in light weather or 

 when the wind is from the land. It is covered in summer with grass, 

 moss, and flowers, and in jilaces a creeping willow grows, but neither 

 trees nor shrubs of any kind. There are several lagoons, and numerous 

 fresh-water ponds, fed by. small streams from the hills, are distributed 

 over the plains. The greater part of the shore line is a low sand beach, 

 but at the southwestern end of the island, and at several points on the 

 northern shore, it rises into almost perpendicular cliffs, from 100 to 300 

 feet high. Those at the southwestern end present a singular appear- 

 ance when viewed from the water. The beating of the surf and the 

 action of the frost have broken up and worn away the material of which 

 they are composed (talcose slate), leaving needles or spires, some of 

 them 100 feet in height, standing out several yards from the cliff. Deep 

 cracks or fissures, extending from top to bottom, have also been formed 

 in the cliffs, which are filled from the water's edge with solid masses of 

 snow (although it was in the month of August we saw them), beauti- 

 fully colored in many i)laces by bird guano and reddish substance in 

 the rock. The hills are composed principally of granite and present 

 everywhere rounded outlines very difterent from the sharp edges and 

 l^oints seen on the volcanic islands to the southward. The island is 

 inhabited by Eskimo who resemble closely those found on the midland 

 between Bristol Bay and Holzebun Sound. They live in four widely 

 spread villages, situated near the extremities of the island. One of the 

 men seen by us could speak a few words of English and all could say 

 ^'yes" and "tobacco," but none of them understood Russian or Aleut, 

 though their language seemed similar to that of the "Kodiac-Aleuts." 



The total population is between 150 and 200 souls. The men are tall 

 and straight, without hair upon their faces except a slight mustache 

 and a few scattered hairs ux^ou the chins of old men. They have black 

 hair and eyes, and their complexion is of a very light copper color. 



Their dress consists of a kind of a shirt, reaching halfway to the. 

 knee, made in some cases of tanned reindeer skin, and in others of bird 

 skins (feathers outside). It fits closely around the neck, and has a hood 

 that can be drawn over the head, lined with the fur of dogs and foxes, 

 or with bird skins. It is confined at the waist by a belt, from which hang 



