28 Sketches of an Excursio?i to Southern Alaska. 



fory, Alaska and British Columbia, for letters and suggestions which I found 

 to be, in many instances, of grea*; value to the cause. I was everywhere hos- 

 pitably received, and in not a few cases recognized by former acquaintances 

 My connection with the Alaska Missions, which has been generally understood 

 from the first, gave me immediate access to the persons whom I most desired 

 to see. I take equal pleasure in being able to say that I found present and 

 former members of my church and congregation at various points along the 

 route, and even to the remotest. The meeting of persons whom I had lost 

 sight of was a irequent surprise to me, as well as a gratification. Such exten- 

 sive recognition helps our cause. 



SURVEY — PROSPECTS AND LOCALITIES. 



My plan for missionary operations, for the present, embraces the entire 

 Tlinket people of eleven tribes, aud the Hydahs. This was my original idea 

 of the work ; and all my observations since, confirm its expediency. This ex^ 

 plains my aim in uniting the Tlinkets of every tribe upon us ; and in getting 

 their undivided support of our measures. 



The various divisions of the field came under my frequent inspection and re- 

 view, in conference with the Rev. S. H. Young, who had spent a year in the 

 Territory, and with whom I was in daily intercourse. 



GEOGRAPHICAL CONTOUR. 



I invite you, first of all, to inspect a map of Alaska, cast on Mercator's Pro' 

 jection. It is impossible to receive a correct impression, either of the outline 

 or the trend of the coast, by consulting maps cast on the globular plan. 



Now you observe that the coast curves westward with northern iaclinations) 

 from the mouth of Portland Channel at 54° 40' north latitude, to Prince Wil- 

 liam Sound, which is the summit of a very obtuse cone; proceeding westward 

 still with southern inclinations, to the extremity of the great promontory called 

 the Peninsula of Alaska; then the Aleutian Islands following the trend far 

 away toward the continent of Asia. 



DISTANCES. 



Taking 54° 4°' as the base line, we follow it across the trackless water^^ 

 through 35° of longitude to Ounimak, an island separated by a narrow channel 

 from the mainland, a distance of one thousand four hundred miles. Dropping 

 a line from the entrance of Prince William Sound to 54° 40', it measures three 

 hunflred and fifty miles. 



The distance between a few prominent points : from the boundary line to 

 Fort Wrangel, one hundred thirty to one hundred forty miles, as the naviga- 

 tion goes; from Fort Wrangel to Sitka, on a similar course, one hundred sixty • 

 miles; from Sitka to Kodiak, seven hundred; from Kodiak to Ounimak, four 

 hundred fifty. The distance to Ounalaska, the nearest and largest of the Aleu- 

 tian Islands, from Kodiak, is six hundred. 



