Voyage to Alaska. — Historical and Descriptive. 19 



about them to me ; that I longed to see them, to tell them how they and their 

 people woidd he saved from destruction, which was sure to follow them if they 

 continued in llicir old ways. I had often thought of them, and prayed for 

 hem, and had now come to tell them how they and their children and chil- 

 dren's children could remain in the places where they now lived. I told them 

 that Dr. Kendall, who was on the steamboat, had come all the way from New 

 ^'ork to see tlieni, and that we wanted to have a conference that evening. I 

 exhorted them to think of what I had said, and to let us know in the evening 

 what they tlunight of it, and what they would do. 



Shaikes expressed great satisfaction on hearing what I had said. He had 

 often thought about the things I had spoken of, and would be very glad to 

 meet us in the evening. .Shustack thanked me for coming to see him, and 

 wished to join the proposed conference. ■ 



Mr. ^'oung procured the Cosmopolitan Hotel, the largest building in the 

 place — a log house, two stories high. A large numl)er of Indians, some of 

 whom belonged to other tribes, were present at the conference. The chiefs 

 occupied elevated seats. The interpreters were Mr. Young and Kadishan, as- 

 sisted l)y W. T. Stephens, owner of the boat. .A^ numlier of whites were pres- 

 ent, also. 



I felt the great gravity of the occasion. Here were the head chiefs of the 

 Stahkeen trilie, whose influence was considerable among all the tribes of 

 Tlinkets occupying the country from the boundaries of British Columbia to 

 Cross Sound. It was reported that Shaikes was vacillating in opinion about 

 us; but he was so nuich under Shustack's control, although equal to him in 

 authority, that he was throw ing his influence on the same side. Shustack had 

 opposed our missions and schools, and sustained the old order of things. 



The conference began with a short address by Dr. Kendall, in which he 

 stated that he had come a long way to see the Stahkeen people ; and that we 

 were doing a great deal for their welfare, and intended to do more ; but tha*^ 

 he wanted to know what they thought alwut it; that he would like to hear 

 what they had to say. 



It was intimated that I was expected to address them l)efore they replied. 

 I accordingly sjioke, saying in substance : 



I remind you of what I said in Mr. Lovell's store. We have sent teachers 

 to you, and are Iniilding a church and school-house for you. Perhaps you 

 think it strange that we should take so much interest in you ; and it is possible 

 that you may suspect us of some wrong design. Put that entirely out of your 

 minds, for we have only the best motive in doing this for your people. We 

 assure you that we do this because we are your friends, and want to save you. 

 I have often thought of you since Mr. Seward bought Alaska ; and prayed 

 that I might do you good ; and we have now come to tell you what you must 

 do to l)e saved. A great many Indians once lived in the United .States coun- 

 try ; Ijut many grew worse and worse, and died off by following war, and 



