<l) INTKODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



into a meeting house where he reads to the other natives the hfe- 

 giving word of God. One hour was very} pleasantly spent there 

 among the natives while tea was prepared in the camp and the deer 

 had theu" lunch. George then followed me back to the herd — in fact 

 the whole village population followed to see the '' tutm-tii," as they 

 call the reindeer. Then we also had to arrange for a new guide to go 

 on with us, because the one we had had worn out liis shoes and 

 wanted to return. At 3 o'clock Sara and Spein also arrived, just as 

 we were ready to go on with the herd. For about tliree hours we 

 traveled well, but then the deer wanted to eat, so we concluded we 

 had better stop overnight and wait for vSara and Spein, who again 

 had gotten far behind. If any more snow should happen to fall they 

 might not be able to find our trail. It is now 10.30 p. m., and our 

 Lapps have not yet come. Where are thej^? 



Thursday, December 3. — Safe and sound are we all now at Bethel. 

 All delays and all disappointments belong now to the past. Sara 

 and company had not arrived when we began to drive the herd 

 this morning at 7 o'clock. But we could not wait, so we marched 

 on, and at 11 o'clock a. m. the herd was grazing 3 or 4 miles from the 

 village of Bethel, while Bals and myself drove down to the mission. 

 How pleasant it was to meet these dear friends and missionaries at 

 Bethel. Never will the feelings that were experienced at that 

 moment be forgotten. Those hearty handshakes and the pleasant 

 faces and kind words of welcome impressed me deeply. 



Dinner was served in ^Ii". Stecker's home. It was the best dinner 

 I think I have ever eaten. The afternoon was spent in talking 

 about deer, missions, and natives. Bals returned to the herd with 

 our sled deer before supper, and will not return until in the mornhig. 

 Spein and Sara also arrived a little before dark. So now all the 

 herders and 400 deer are safe at the destination. 



The wmd has been the same, only a little more easterly, and c[uite 

 strong. It has been very dark. The sun has not been seen for, I 

 think, six days. 



Friday, Decemher Jf. — The da}' has been a very interestmg one. 

 I have visited all the three missionary families and learned about 

 the conditions under which they work here for the uplifting and 

 betterment of the part of humanit}' which has come mider their 

 care. As stated, the missionary force is made up of three families — 

 Adolphus Stecker, the missionary in charge; Joseph Weinlick, the 

 school teacher, and Mr. Heinz. Two native helpers are employed 

 in the work. Both of them have received their education at Car- 

 lisle, Pa. The one is George Spear, who has already been introduced; 

 the other is David, who is living at Bethel and makes trips to neigh- 

 boring villages. The missionaries and myself were out on an excur- 

 sion this afternoon to see the herd, but as it had gone several mUes 



