$S Sketches of an Exaaswn to Southern Alaska. 



I 

 The Greek Church for many years has had priests, churches, and schools in 



various parts of Alaska, and many native proselytes were won over to that 

 faith. But there are tribes who were never proselyted, an.ong them the Tlink- 

 ets, whose condition we are now considering. The Romanists made no direct 

 effort until after our missions were introduced; and no systematic movement 

 was made by Protestant or American Christians, until we undertook it. Al- 

 though we have introduced only two missions, the field remains open to us to 

 this day. The work of evangelizing these people seems to have been allotted 

 to us in a remarkable manner. 



After careful comparison of facts and opinions, the writer still advocates the 

 restriction of our missions to the Tlinket people for the p7-csent. It can be 

 shown that their intelligence, aptitude, and vigor qualify them, under the in- 

 spiration of God's Spirit, to convey the Gospel to the distant parts of the con- 

 tinent. Ard our vvork will be well done, if we can secure and qualify them 

 as the future teachers of Alaska. I do not advocate restriction in any such 

 sense as to keep us from establishing missions in any other promising localities; 

 as for instance, among t'le Kenaians, whose territory is contiguous to the Uga 

 ienzes, at the apex of the great arch ; but in the sense of concentration upon 

 a given area, with a well comprehended aim in view. With these explanations, 

 we proceed to designate the localities for new missions. 



I. A powerful tribe called Chilkats occupy the country around Lynn Canal 

 and Chilkat River. This canal is the upper extremity of the wonderful influx 

 of water from the ocean, which created these islands, inlets, bays, and chan- 

 nels — all bathed in the moderate temperature of the Japanese current. The 

 physical characteristics of the Chilkat country, its climate and productions, 

 difftr in almost nothing from the other regions occupied by the Tlinkets. The 

 Chilkat country is dryer and colder in the winter, and warmer in the summer 

 than Sitka or Wransjel. 



This tribe numbers one thousand. I had a long interview with Kakee the 

 Chief, and with a band of Chilkats, Rev. S. H. Young being present to as- 

 sist in the conference. We were contirmed in our impressions that the Chil- 

 kats were accessible to Christian influences, and desired the introduction of 

 school and teachers. 



The Chilkats are connected by ties of kindred with the Stahkcens, and 

 though the distance by canoe-navigation is between two and three hundred 

 miles, the former often visit the latter; and many of them come to Fort Wran- 

 gel, as other Tlinkets do, for the purposes of trade. Though their country 

 is remote from the course of ships, and is the most distant and farthest mland 

 of the remarkable district under our survey, yet their constitutional vigor, in- 

 tellectual traits, and independent spirit give them a commanding position 

 among the tribes, and qualify them for great usefulness after they shall have re- 

 ceived the Gospel. 



This mission will be more important in some respects than the one at Sitka. 

 It will open the way directly to the interior northward and beyond the Chilkat 

 River. I have heard of a tribe, numerous and not speaking the Tlinket ian- 



