Plans for Improving the Natives. 35 



This extravagant vahiatior has been of late industriously circulated in our 

 church ; but counter statements have had such weight with tlie Board of Home 

 Missions that they resolved to send to Alaska an agent who should examine 

 the whole subject of Missions — existing and proposed— and as far as possible, 

 arrive at definite conclusions, and report the same 10 them for decisive action. 



In consequence of our having jurisdiction over that vast field, it was proper 

 to designate a member of the Synod of the Columbia, for these responsible 

 tasks. In pursuance of this appointment, the writer spent more than a month 

 in Alaska in July and August, 1879, being constantly engaged in the duties as- 

 signed to him. He allowed no available source of information to escape him 

 examined existing missions, surveyed the ground with a view to future opera- 

 tions, and sought in every way to enlighten the aborigines as to our aims, to 

 encourage our friends, to conciliate opponents, and to attach them all to our 

 cause. The occasion was very grave, and yet very animating. It required the 

 best powers which a man could bring to it, illumined by Divine wisdom. 

 With painstaking and conscientious collocation of facts and comparison with 

 providential disclosures, the agent of the Board sought to ascertain God's will. 

 I cannot doubt that God's Spiiit helped both him and his counsellor and coad- 

 jutor. Rev. S. H. Young, to arrive at a comprehensive view, present and pros, 

 pective, of the work of evangelizing and civilizing Alaska, thereby reaffirming 

 the plans which were adumbrated in my earliest conception of this work, and 

 which were developed into proportion and consistency when they were at differ- 

 ent times laid before the Board. The plans will be explained in another part 

 of this Report. 



A remarkable state of mind has existed for a few years past among the na. 

 lives of Southern Alaska, and especially among the various tribes of the Tlink. 

 et race. They were losing confidence in the old ways and customs. They are 

 powerless to arrest the changes that are thrust upon them by the intrusion of a 

 superior race. Many of them are eager for instruction, and ready to adopt 

 the garb and customs of civilized life. 



But beneath all this was the operation of an invisible power. In the over- 

 ture to the General As.sembly, of 1S77, from this Committee, reasons were 

 given "for believing that God's Spirit is leading them to inquire for something 

 better than they now possess." The proof of this has become more and more 

 apparent ; and to this divine influence we attribute the rapid developement of 

 our cause among the Tlinket tribes, and its prosperity at Fort Wrangel. 



THE NATIVE TRIBES 



of the southern part of Alaska inhabit the coast and adjacent islands from 54" 

 40', extending 400 miles to Chilkat River. They are divided into ten or twelve 

 tribes. The Hydahs belong to a distinct family, and occupy the Prince of 

 Wales Archipelago. It is affirmed by white people who are acquainted with 

 these tribes, that they are in a remarkable degree 



