INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC RPHNDEER INTO ALASKA. 93 



of them took some 15 or 20 pounds of ivory from Ifkowan, father of 

 Sepillu, one of our herders, and others are continually threatening 

 and intimidatint]; our people into giving of anything the Indian Point- 

 ers want. I called at Asshoonu's house one day just in time to abort 

 an attempt of this kind by the son of the old Indian Pointer chief, 

 Koworrin, who threatened to fight Asshooku if ho did not give up 

 some whalebone. These people always bring li(|uor with them, too, 

 for there is no restriction as to trading such stuff on the Siberian 

 coast. 



In February one of the men, Hokh ko okh, drove his dog team too 

 close to the sled deer which were staked out not far from the camp, 

 causing one to break loose and run away, while another was so badly 

 bitten it was thought for a while we would have to kill it, but we 

 brought it to the station, housed it in the deer shed, and nursed and 

 doctored it for two months, when the weather had so moderated and 

 the snow sufficiently uncovered to permit of his being sent to the 

 herd, where he is doing finel5^ The man was impressed into provid- 

 ing deer moss for the deer as long as it was in hospital, and we shall 

 set a fine upon him as soon as the Thetis comes. 



In May, three dogs, nearly starved, belonging to a lazy fellow 

 named Koloo ku, went to the herd, over 15 miles, chasing it and 

 killing one fawn and so injuring a second that it died. The boys 

 killed all his dogs, which so enraged him he said w^e should have to 

 pay for them and he would kill some deer. He had previously 

 threatened the boys and tried to intimidate them, so Richards took 

 him outside my house, where the conference was being held when 

 he demanded pay for his dogs, intending to take him down to the 

 Beach House and explain things to him; but on the way he attacked 

 Richards, who, how^ever, was too much for him, and put him in irons, 

 from which he was released on the word of the old man who holds 

 vassalage over him. On tliis case also we are waiting the coming 

 of the Thetis. 



There has been considerable liquor made here this winter, and 

 some traded from the whalers, but we do not despair of its final 

 extermination. 



The medical work has increased and demands much of our time. 

 It would seem to us as right for the Government to furnish a supply 

 of medicines as it is for the surgeon of the revenue cutters to do 

 such work, and no one would think of questioning that. 



We feel much encouraged this year. There are beginning to be 

 seen signs that the seed sown has fallen into good ground. Some 

 blades of grass are even showing, and in due season we shall reap 

 if we faint not. 



A great moral and physical improvement in the condition of the 

 people would result from a du'ect and specific order from Washington 

 S. Doc. 61, 58-3 8 



