CRUISE OF STEAMER COR WIN EN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 21 



ported the facts of some of these murders last year, and recommended that some official action be 

 taken to bring the murderers to justice. I now respectfully renew the recommendation. Another 

 proline cause of trouble has been the treatment of the natives by the traders in times past, there 

 being great opposition between the traders of the two companies. Each, in order to gain the good- 

 will of the natives long enough to secure their furs, would take the worst men of the tribe, they 

 having geuerally the most influence with the others, and make them presents and show them other 

 marks of distinction. Then, neither side hesitated to encourage the Indians to cheat the other side 

 by refusing to pay their debts. At the stores they ask and receive credit for food and other arti- 

 cles until such times as they can pay, and when they come in with a supply of furs, instead of 

 paying their just debts, they not unfrequeutly take them to the opposition store, where they are 

 readily bought, notwithstanding the indebtedness may be well known. Then, to avoid an outbreak, 

 the traders do not hesitate to tell them each year that troops or Government aid in some form will 

 be sure to arrive when the boats return from the mouth of the river the following season. At first 

 this had the desired effect, but they have seen the boats return so many times with only the traders 

 that now they have lost all faith, and say openly they do not believe any aid will be sent. 



As a specimen of the treatment of criminals by the traders in the past, it may be mentioned that 

 Larriown, the murderer of Lieutenant Barnard, B. N., for many years before his death, which 

 occurred about three years ago, made annual visits to the trading posts at Saint Michael's, where 

 he was treated with the greatest consideration by the traders, presents made him, &c. The mur- 

 der of this gallant young Englishman was one of the most barbarous and uncalled for ever com- 

 mitted in the Territory. lie was an officer on board H. B. M. ship Enterprise, Captain Collinson, 

 which fitted out from England, and in company with the Investigator sailed for Bering Strait for 

 the purpose of prosecuting in that direction the search for tidings of the expedition under Frank- 

 lin. Both vessels arrived at the straits in the summer of 1850, but the Enterprise, being a slow 

 sailer, did not arrive until too late to pass Point Barrow that season, so turned back and win- 

 tered at Hong-Kong, and returned to the Arctic the following year. Hearing rumors of white men 

 having been seen on the Upper Yukon, and believing it possible that it might be some of the Frank- 

 lin expedition making south in that direction, Lieutenant Barnard asked for and obtained per- 

 mission to remain at Saint Michael's, or Michaelofski Redoubt, as it was called by the Russians, 

 and make a trip up the river. He arrived at Niolates the followiug spring, and while there the 

 Koyukuns, a neighboring tribe, became offended, at some imaginary insult, and, to avenge them- 

 selves, attacked the Niolates people, and massacred almost the entire tribe. Lieutenant Barnard, 

 who was in bed ill at the time, was attacked in his room. He seized his gun, which was near him, 

 and fired two shots, but without effect; the gun being struck up, the balls lodged in the ceiling. 

 He was stabbed in the abdomen by Larriown, after being seized and disarmed. Barnard died after 

 several days of suffering. The massacre was a most atrocious affair, and the mention of it now only 

 serves to show what these people are capable of. 



This country, which at present produces nothing but furs, the majority of which go to the 

 two large trading companies located at Saint Michael's, is believed to be rich in minerals. In its 

 rivers are an abundance of the finest salmon in the world. In a few years undoubtedly these 

 interests will be developed, bringing in a large number of white men, and, unless some action is 

 taken to prevent it, serious complications may occur. A trail is now being cut from the Yukon 

 to the headwaters of the Chilkat, and it is not unlikely that some of the miners from Southeast- 

 ern Alaska will find their way through there the present season. 



The traders from the interior report that, owing to the light fall of snow in the Yukon country, 

 the Indians were unable to kill moose enough for food, and in consequence a number of them died 

 of starvation. In many settlements they suffered severely. They hunt moose on snow-shoes, the 

 deep snow enabling them to approach the game, which they kill with bows and arrows. 



The schooner Flying Mist, being in port at Saint Michael's, was thoroughly examined. She 

 had on board 25 gallons of whisky, with a permit to carry the same from the San Francisco custom- 

 house. The Flying Mist was in the hands of the same parties who had charge of the schooner 

 Leo, which was seized by this vessel last year. (R. C. Walker, master, and ('. L. Lieninski, agent.) 

 The schooner was fitted out for taking seals, having on board seal-clubs for killing them, and salt 

 for preserving the skins, and was apparently bound on a predatory cruise around the seal islands 



