102 ALASKA. 



obtain the necessaries of life— sach as seal-meat, Larrt bread, 

 tea, &c. — sleep most of tbe time when unoccupied in cooking, 

 eating, and tbe daily observance of tbe routine of tbe Greek 

 Catholic Church. Their rebgious duties alone preserve them 

 from absolute stagnation ; for, in obedience to its teachings, 

 they attend church quite regularly, make and receive calls on 

 their saints' days, which are very numerous, and their birth- 

 days are generally enlivened with home-brewed beer, or " quass," 

 upon which all classes become more or less intoxicated. They 

 add to these entertainments of the emannimUc the music of the 

 accordeon, an instrument of which they are very fond ; and a 

 great number of the women in particular can play inditfer- 

 ently a limited selection of airs, many of which are the old 

 battle-songs and ballads so popuhir during the rebellion, and 

 which the soldiers quartered here in 18G9 taught them. From 

 the soldiers, also, they learned to dance various iigures, and to 

 waltz. These dances, however, the old folks do not enjoy, and 

 they seldom indulge in them, unless under the intluence of beer. 



From the following statement it will be seen that these people 

 are doing better work every succeeding season ; for example, 

 90,000 seals were taken this year in sixteen days less time than 

 it took to get 75,000 in 1871, viz : 



In Saint Paul's Island, 1871,55 days' work of GO men secured 

 75,000 seals. 



In 1872, 50 days' work of 71 men secured 75,000 seals. 



In 1873, 40 days' work of 71 men secured 75,000 seals. 



In 1874, 39 days' work of 84 men secured 90,000 seals.* 



This shows plainly that they are in better physical condition 

 than at hrst ; it furnishes also undeniahle inoof of the undimin- 

 ished supply of killable seals. 



INHABITANTS OF SAINT PAUL, JULY 1, 1870, TAKEN FROM 

 PHILIP VOLKOV'S LISTS, AUGUST 8, 1873. 



[The names in italics are either dead or absent from the island at the present writing.] 



1. Philip Keemachneek. G. Mareena, Ms icife. 



2. JEfft'oseenia, hisivife. 7. Alexsandcr, his so7i. 



3. Ivan, his son. 8. Sylvester, Ms son. 



4. Danelo, Ms son. 9. Eefeem Anoolanalc. 



5. Vasseele Seedoolee. 10. Matroona, Ms wife. 



*Tl)is increase of 15,000 on Saint Paul was made this season with a 

 E,inn\iiv reduction on Saint Geoi'ge; tbe proportion of seal-life being small on 

 the latter compared with tbe former. 



