82 CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



What impressed me was the fact that I saw very few men of apijarent middle age. The women are 

 somewliiit lighter complexioncd than the men. Their faces are more oval-shaped, and their eyes 

 have a mnch softer expression. They wear the hair parted neatly in the middle and arranged 

 in two braids, which are worn in front of the ears. In common with all these northern tribes, the 

 extremities of both sexes are very small, and, in the case of the women, remarkably well shaped. 

 Moral character. — The fact that these interior tribes are better morally than their brethern of 

 tho^coast is so apparent that even the dullest observer must see the difference between the two, 

 and woniler how it happens that these natives who have been brought into contact with our 

 boasted civilization are more objectionable in their manners and less trustworthy than those who 

 have not enjoyed these advantages. A few words will suflBce to show the moral character of these 

 gentle hyperboreans. They are honest in their dealings with strangers and amongst themselves, as 

 we had ample means of finding out. They are simple and credulous, and easily deceived, showing 

 that they are not liable to deceive others. They are hospitable, and although intensely curious, 

 are not prying or intrusive. In their domestic relations they are kind and devoted to each other, • 

 and the universal consideration paid by all to the very old and feeble is one of the touching and 

 admiral)Ic traits of their character. The extraordinarily kind and indulgent treatment of their 

 children is a trait which is common to all these northern tribes. 



They have no laws except that one which seems to be inherent in the hearts of all rational 

 beings, to " do unto others as ye would others should do unto you," and I believe that these people 

 live up to tiiat law as perfectly as their sense of what is right and wrong will allow them. There 

 are certain contradictory phases of character in all of these tribes which seem at first glance to be 

 irreconcilable with their generally kind and loving disposition. I allude to the harsh treatment of 

 their women, especially at the time of child-birth, and at other periods when nature would seem to 

 claim for them the utmost care and protection. Following the customs of all of the Alaskan coast 

 tribes in this region, the women arc isolated at the time of confinement, and for a period of a week 

 or ten days after child-birth no fresh food is allowed to pass their lips. At the time of her monthly 

 periods of menstruation a woman is not allowed to enter a boat or ride upon the sled of her husband. 

 This often entails on her additional hardship in a life which at best is but one long act of drudgery. 

 Another bad trait of these natives is their apparent inability to tell the truth under cei-tain 

 circumstances. The traveler must accept with care the tales some of these Munchausens tell of 

 the size of fish, length of rivers, width of lakes, etc. Upon cross-examination when a statement is 

 proven to be false or erroneous they do not evince any shame whatever. 



Governmeiif.—WheTd there are no laws it follows that there is no necessity for rulers, and so 

 it is with all these tribes. There are no recognized chiefs, nor does there seem to be any tribal 

 union among them. With the interior tribes the exercise of " Shamanism," so-called, is prevalent, 

 and the " shaman," in some instances which came under my notice, seemed to have a prepondera- 

 ting influence in the councils of the settlement or commune. Exactly how the " shaman " receives 

 his supposed power which he claims enables him to converse with spirits was not clearly explained. 

 Some peculiar circumstance attending his birth, or the fact that he has passed through some ordeal 

 which few could undergo, probably has much to do with the case. Again, in all communities of 

 human beings there seem to exist individuals who are gifted by nature with a higher order ot 

 intelligence than their fellows, and for that reason are naturally looked up to and their advice 

 sought on all important occasions. The "shamans" whom we had occasion to deal with were 

 observed to be more retiring and dignified in their bearing than what I was led to expect from 

 reading reports on the subject by other writers. They were generally the last to make our 

 acquaintance at a settlement and seldom remained long near our camp, which was a trait so 

 unusual with the natives as to attract our attention at once. An instance of the display of the 

 "shaman's" powers is mentioned in the narrative portion of this report. 



The omailik or chief trader and general business agent of the Eskimo coast tribes is not so 

 common among these nomadic people. They have so little to barter that it does not give any one 

 man the chance to accumulate wealth by the exercise of a superior talent for business. 



In all discussions touching the welfare of the community or any important project, the women, 

 especially the old ones, join, and their opinions are received with evident respect by the men. 



While there are no laws among them and consequently no recognized punishment for the com- 



