Geographical. — Climatic. — Population. 2 9 



CLIMATE — ^JAPAN CURRENT. 



With considerable regularity the trend of the oast describes a vast circular 

 arch or curve. The peculiar configuration' of the mainland coast, is made 

 the more remarkable from the fact that ihe o:ean waves beat against the bar- 

 rier of lofty m )unlain-;, on the inland sides of which, almost perpetual winter 

 reigns, and on the seaward side, the verdure of perpetual spring. This de- 

 scription, like many others in this connection, is intended to be understood in 

 general terms. There are numerous exceptions ; but they are very limited in 

 extent. On island and mainland a few lofty peaks are always in view, rising 

 above the mountain horizon, whose summits are covered with snow. All the 

 islands, even the largest, share in the seaward characteristics. 



The simple explanation of this vast diversity in the climate is in the ocean 

 current, ever flowing deep and irresistible. Starting from the equator on the 

 Asiatic side, and rushing onward, it branches at the Islands of Japan, from which 

 it obtains its name. One branch, proceeding eastward, beats upon the shores 

 of the vast concave ; and it seems to pause before the rocky barrier curved 

 around it, until its resistless forces overcome the obstructions and it rolls north- 

 ward and loses its identity in the chill embrace of the North Pacific Sea. In 

 the great concave this current distributes itself among the innumerable islands 

 until it strikes against the mountainous mainland coast. 



The two large inlets are Prince William Sound and Cook's Inlet, alcng the 

 coasts of which, the same climatic influences prevail. The islands along this 

 coast are estimated to exceed ten thousand in number. Most of these lie be- 

 tween 54" 40' and Lynn Canal, the northen extremity of this wonderful inland 

 navigation, about one hundred fifty miles north of Sitka, and into which the 

 the river Chilcat flows, and west of which is Mount Fairweather. 



POPULATION. 



It is said that there arc four distinct races of Aborigines in Alaska; the Es- 

 kimo, rany:in2 north of the great curve described in this paper, and extend- 

 ing to the Arctic, differmg scarcely any from the people of the same race on 

 the opposite side of the continent; the Aleutes, occupying the peninsula and 

 the Aleutian Islands; the Kenaians, occupying the coast between Cook's In- 

 let and Prince William Sound, and thence extenrjing over the interior eastward 

 under the name of the Tinnehs ; and finally the Tlinkets, who shall chiefly 

 engage our attention in the remainder of this report, who arc found upon the 

 residue of the coast and islands o( the great bend to 54° 40'. I think that these 

 divisions will be found in some respects arbitrary; and that the third, and 

 probab'y the second, will undergo a rearrangement. 



I mcline to the belief that a large extent of the coast stretching along under 

 the shadow of the St. Elias Alps to the Atnai or Copper River, is uninhabited 

 except by detached bands of the Tinneh jieople, under the name of Ugalenzes 

 and Yukatats. 



The Tlinkets are divided into a number of tribes. The most important o^ 

 'hese, are the Chilcat. Tahkoo, Awk, Kake, Hoochenoo, Sitka, Hoonya, 



