REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION 



could in the States; and some were there from the spirit of adventure. 

 But I think the number that might be classed as having left their own 

 country for the country's good is a very small percentage. My 

 experience has been that white men who go to Alaska and spend a year 

 there will always want to go again. I think the outdoor life and freedom 

 from conventions is a great attraction to many people. It is the fascin- 

 ating prospect of a new frontier that appeals to me. We no longer have 

 a western frontier, but we have a northern frontier. The same type of 

 men that made the west will make the north in somewhat the same way. 



"I think the chances of success in Alaska will be increased by having 

 in the country a food-producing industry. Certainly the inhabitants 

 of Nome congratulated themselves when they were able to get fresh 

 meat in the shape of reindeer, rather than to wait for it to be shipped in 

 by refrigerator ships from the States. I don't think the deermen of Alaska 

 have ever had any difficulty in disposing of their carcasses. 



"I have sat on a reindeer to see if he could carry me. At that time 

 I weighed 200 pounds. He could, and did, carry me for some little 

 distance very readily. The deer are used by the Tungus as beasts of 

 burden and also for transportation deer-back. I have seen the deer trot- 

 ting with a man on his back. I have known the Tungus to travel deer- 

 back for ten or fifteen miles — men weighing perhaps 150 or 160 pounds. 

 How much more they can carry I do not know. You probably wouldn't 

 find the deermen in Siberia loading the deer with heavy packs. I think 

 you would find the packs exceedingly light, on the same principle as they 

 keep the sleds exceedingly light. They would rather use more deer and 

 less weight in the pack." 



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