A Voyage to Sitka. — Historical and Descriptive. 9 



Tiic lulhcroiUs (if the CirccU Church arc found llrst, .it Sitka; westward, 

 on (.ouk's Inlet: on the ^reat [tcninsula of Alaska; on Kodiak, south of it; 

 Ounalaska. and other Alutian Islands, stretching far westward, and the vast 

 region north of the great peninsula, running up to IJehring's Straits, u]) the 

 valley of the ^'ld^on. ■:i\\'\ thence northward to the frozen ocean. A \ast re- 

 gion indeed ; hut llie jiopulation is very meagre. .\l Sitka a few Russians 

 and halfdireeds t'orni the churcli ; on Koilial^ it is re|)orted that the entire 

 population of e\ er}- stripe docs not exceed sixteen hundred ; the Aleuts are 

 reckoned ai from four to six thousand ; and the entire i)ody of the l-^skimos 

 north i_)f the great |ieninsula only a few thousands more ! 



MISSIiiNAKV SLK\KV OK SITKA AND Sl R1UHM)1N(;S. 



The Sitka Intlians belong to a trii^e of the same name, which occupies this 

 and a few other points on the coast. Owing to their position and intelligence, 

 they are quite influential. Their habitations are built like those of other tribes 

 of the Tlinket nation, of huge timbers, and thick plank skillfully hewed into 

 shape. They exhibit great ingenuity in making their canoes and other con- 

 "rivanccs. Ihil of the mechanical skill of the Tlinket people I shall speak 

 hereafter. 



North-'we.-.t of Liaranoft". Island, on which Sitka is located, the next large 

 island is Tchitchagoft', (now pronounced Kichagoff,) upon which an interesting 

 body of the natives is found called Hoonyahs, w^ho are reported to be warlike, 

 and indisposed to receive missionaries and teachers, which, no doubt, means 

 that they decline to receive the visits of corrupt and disorderly while men. 

 But my informant admitted that his knowledge was too limited to give a correct 

 opinion of the whole tribe. 



On the presumption that you have before you a map of the country, I pro- 

 ceed to direct your attention to what is called Lynn Canal, northward from 

 Sitka; the extreme point of the nitrusion of the sea upon the continent in this 

 unparalleled series of straits, channels, inlets and sounds, connected with a 

 like unparalleled series of islands, and even archipelagoes. This embraces a 

 region from the southern extreme of Alaska, 54° 40", up to the mouth of 

 Chilcat River, a tlistance of Hnir hundred miles in a straight line. CJeologically 

 considered, the chraacteristics of this region extend, however, westward 

 the great peninsula, embracing inlets and islands, tlie most importa 

 being Prince William Sound. Cook's Inlet and Kodiak Island, the latter 

 being about se\en h\uidre<l nnles from Sitka. In giving my \iews respecting 

 localities for opening missions, I shall refer to these geographical features. 



The two days spent at Sitka were fdlcd up with inquiries pertaining to the 

 -ai-rcd object of my visit. My secretary wp.s alike busily employed ; and we 

 were not satisfied witii vi-its of mere formality, but sought information from 

 every competent souree. We interviewed Col. Hall, collector of the district ; 

 CajK. Heardslee, connnander of the C S. S. "Jamestown," anchored in port : 

 Mijor Berry, former collector : A. T. Whitford, the noted dealer in curiosities. 

 and other trader- : also. Rev. N. I. Metropolsky, the Russiai\ priest : Mr-.. 



