rians Jar hnprovmg the Natives. 39 



guage, who inhabit a region which has never been explored by while men, and 

 who visit the Chilkals for trade. This tribe belongs to the Tinneh people. 

 An active and devoted missionary among the Chilkats would soon acquire a 

 competen; knowledge of that country and the people who inhabit it. He 

 would soon obtain access to them, and be able to shed the light of the Gospel 

 among them. He could with God's blessing train some of their young men as 

 teachers and missionaries. If it be true that the Tinneh people are scattered 

 over the vast interior in families and small bands, it will be a giand expedient 

 10 send such young me.i among them to gather them into the fold of Christ- 

 This will be in all probability the only introductory method which we .shall be 

 able to employ. And I know of no locality that we could possibly select which 

 can furnish the facilities for this preliminary work as the Chilkat cotintry. 



n. South of Lynn Canal, the country of the Chilkats, lies Admiralty Is- 

 land inhabited by the Hoolznoos. These Indians resemble the other Tlinket 

 tribes in all resi)ects. It is reported that there are considerable portions of this 

 island susceptiljle of cultivation. The inhabitants have practiced the cultiva- 

 tion of vegetables for a long time; and in the rieigl.Lcrl.ccd of ihcir village 

 gardens abound. 



The principal village is admirably located, though retired from the main 

 channel, on Chatham Straits. This point has attracted my attention from my 

 first knowledge of il. Its proximity to the Awks and to the Takoos recom 

 mends it, and it is nearer at least by a canoe-day's voyage to Fort Wrangel Oj 

 Sitka than the Chilkat towns. 



At the mouth of the river of the same name eastward from Lynn Canal live- 

 the Takoo tribe ; and from this point the Tinneh people, roaming over the 

 vast interior, can be successfully reached. 



The whole region requires a thorough inspection with a view to the estab' 

 Ushment of a mi.ssion at either location. My earnest desire to visit this region 

 was frustrated by the fears or the incompetency of the steamboat enrdneer. 

 But Mr. Young will make arrangements by which he can visit the country un- 

 der the auspices of freindly Indians and member.-, of his church, -who are con 

 nected with the families of the Chilkat Tyhees. 



Continuing south-east from Wrangel on the curve of the mainland to Port- 

 land Channel near 50° 40', we find the Tongass inlet, and fort and tribe of 

 the same name. I saw some of them at Wrangel, who expressed the desire so 

 uniformly maintained by them for teachers and schools. I received the im- 

 pression that they were not numerous, though intelligent and industrious. 

 Fort Simpson, in British Columbia, is readily accessible to them, and then 

 have been brought in some measure under the influence of Kcv. Thos. Crosby, 

 Wesleyan minister at that place. 



It is inexpedient to establish a mission at present on Tongass Inlet. Is 

 would be a wise policy, however, to select a few of the most promising lads 

 and train them in oui schools for future service in their own tribe. We shall 

 undoubtly adopt this policy in order to reach many of the AUska tribes as 



