TVrangell Island 



bright colors they made a lively picture among the 

 quivering bushes, keeping up a low pleasant chant- 

 ing as if the day and the place and the berries were 

 according to their own hearts. The children carried 

 small baskets, holding two or three quarts; the women 

 two large ones swung over their shoulders. In the 

 afternoon, when the baskets were full, all started 

 back to the camp-ground, where the canoe was left. 

 We parted at the lake, I choosing to follow quietly 

 the stream through the woods. I was the first to 

 arrive at camp. The rest of the party came in shortly 

 afterwards, singing and humming like heavy-laden 

 bees. It was interesting to note how kindly they held 

 out handfuls of the best berries to the little girl, who 

 welcomed them all in succession with smiles and 

 merry words that I did not understand. But there 

 was no mistaking the kindliness and serene good 

 nature. 



While I was at Wrangell the chiefs and head men 

 of the Stickeen tribe got up a grand dinner and enter- 

 tainment in honor of their distinguished visitors, 

 three doctors of divinity and their wives, fellow pas- 

 sengers on the steamer with me, whose object was to 

 organize the Presbyterian church. To both the dinner 

 and dances I was invited, was adopted by the Stickeen 

 tribe, and given an Indian name (Ancoutahan) said 

 to mean adopted chief. I was inclined to regard this 

 honor as being unlikely to have any practical value, 

 but I was assured by Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. Young, and 

 others that it would be a great safeguard while I was 

 on my travels among the different tribes of the arch- 



I 33) 



