ALASKA. 



289 



TANANA INUIAN. 



The Aleuts, who inhabit the Aleutian Islands are, to a considerable extent, of 

 mixed blood, Russian and Koloschian. They have advanced in civilization far 

 beyond any other of the Esquimaux race. Not a few of them have received a 

 fair education, and among the priests of the Greek Church there are not a few 

 who go through the service of the church in the Greek language, with a fuU 

 understanding of the words of the service. 



Quite nine- tenths of the whole territory of Alaska is purely Arctic, and is 

 not only uninhabited but uninhabitable. The other tenth is now sparsely in- 

 habited, and there is little reason to suppose that the population will ever be 

 greatly beyond its present number. Except in special cases, the possible popu- 

 lation of a country is measured by its agricultural capacity. Leaving out of 

 view the extreme northern parts of Alaska, the best accounts as yet accessible 

 show that at St. Michael's lettuce, parsnips, and turnips can be raised by sowing 

 them in beds. At Fort Yukon potatoes not much larger than cherries can be 

 raised. At Sitka potatoes will grow a little larger. On some of the islands 

 the inhabitants can even venture upon barley. The forest-trees, which flourish 

 in isolated parts, will soon be exhausted, as far as any profitable use of them is 

 concerned. Fish and furs constitute almost the sole value of Alaska, The 

 fisheries are among the most valuable in the world. The furs will soon be ex- 

 hausted, unless prompt measures are taken to prevent the capture of fur-bearing 



animals in the breeding season. 



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