66 Sketchei of an Excursion to Southern Alaska. 



REPORT ON ALASKA.— NO. VI. 



EXl'LANATORV. 



The following is a part of the Executive Committee's Report, made to the Synod of the Col- 

 umbia, at its last meeting, Oct. 1880. It belongs here, in the historical order of events. 



The work of Christian civilization among Aborigines within the bounds o 

 the Synod, still engages the care and oversight of the Committee. 



The suspension of our work at Sitka naturally invited the intrusion ol other 

 denominations into that field. The situation became critical. No missionary 

 was found at the East. On the recommendation of J. V. Milligan, who was a 

 classmate of Rev. G. W. Lyons, the Sitka mission was tendered to the latter 

 gentleman, then in California, and whose work there was commended by the 

 Rev. T. Frazer. About the same time, the school-teacher Miss Austin, was 

 commissioned by the Board. 



The Rev. G. W. Lyons went on in April, and spent a month with the Rev. 

 S. H. Young, acquiring a store of information, derived from the experience of 

 our Missionary at Fort Wrangel. They circumnavigated Prince of Wales Island, 

 the largest of the Alexander group. They were hospitably received by the 

 natives, who expressed the earnest desire for teachers and missionaries, — thus 

 confirming the unanimity elsewhere maintained in petitions for these institutions. 



The quarters occupied by our Sitka mission are held by no secure tenure. 

 The oral permission of the naval Commander obtained admittance, and upon 

 that rests the present occupancy. It would be wise to purchase the old hos- 

 pital and adjacent grounds. The building is large, and can be made very 

 serviceable, and the grounds are already used for gardens. Meanwhile we 

 should be put in possession by a written order from the Government. We 

 'hear from trustworthy sources, that both the teacher and missionary are 

 'ndustriously employed. They began under very unfavorable circumstan-ces 

 and the school still lacks facilities. One of my informants expressed his 

 surprise in decided terms, at the attempt of the great Presbyterian Church 

 to introduce itself with such scant outfit and such miserly supplies. And we 

 add, that the occasions for the surprise are well-founded. 



There is a class of the population of Sitka, for whom some provision of edu- 

 cation should be made. I refer to the children of Russians and half-breeds. 

 A school was organized for them more then a year ago. Commander Beards- 

 lee of the U. S. S. Jamestown, and Mrs. Beardslee, his wife, have taken an 

 active part in this school. Their removal from Sitka leaves the school in dan- 

 ger of being disbanded. If it be possible to find a trust -worthy and capable 

 manager at Sitka, for this school, it would be better for us to leave it in such 

 hands ai present, and until our Mission can be reinforced. 



Rev. S. H. Young has explored the coast from the southern extremity of 

 Alaska to Cross Sound and Chilkat river, which are situated northward of 

 Sitka. He has carefully taken the census of the tribes and villages. By his 

 figures, the estimates of population are still too large. These have been reduced 



