DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 59 



awhile I found two bottles of whisky which a woman had concealed 

 under her. 



The moment I got possession of the whisky there was an uproar, and 

 it looked as if we would have trouble, but our vigorous attitude prob- 

 ably averted it. We returned to the station in possession of the liquor. 

 which will be turned over to the commander of the Bear upon his 

 arrival here. 



The liquor was found in the tent of a Cape Prince of Wales native, 

 who had brought a letter from one of the teachers, saying, '• he was one 

 of the wealthiest and most influential men of that tribe." We were 

 glad of this, for it showed to him that we would seize liquor distributed 

 among our people by one of their headmen as quickly as if by one of 

 the humblest of the tribe. We afterwards sent word to one of the 

 teachers at the cape that any liquor brought here in the future by their 

 people would be seized at all hazards, and asked them to give notice to 

 the natives to this effect, which they did. 



We made up our minds that this proceeding would either cause 

 trouble or stop such practice in the future; and I am happy to say that, 

 although many natives from the cape have visited the station at dif- 

 ferent times since, and once during the winter over 80 of them came 

 here at one time, not a drop of liquor has been brought here, and not 

 another case of drunkenness has occurred. I will add further that 

 both Mr. Gibson and myself have been among the Prince of Wales 

 people away from the station at different times, and no spirit of hos- 

 tility has shown itself. I will state further that the "thug," although 

 he still enjoys his unenviable reputation, is one of the most quietly 

 disposed persons who come to the station. 



This affair at once placed the Siberians, as it were, on a higher plane, 

 and they have since mingled with the natives on more of an equality. 

 No more tears were shed, as before, and no more tales of us all being 

 killed have been told. 



I have since been told that the whisky seized was bought on the 

 Siberian side last summer, and that several cases of drunkenness have 

 occurred at Cape Prince of Wales during the winter. 



On the 25th of September last I wrote you, giving a report of this 

 transaction, and sent the letter to Cape Prince of Wales, to be forwarded 

 to you by some vessel, should the teachers be able to intercept one on 

 its passage through the straits en route to San Francisco. For fear 

 the letter did not reach you I send a copy herewith, marked Exhibit A. 



While we quieted the fears of the Siberians as far as their being 

 molested by the Eskimo was concerned, we were never able to induce 

 them to give up their foolish superstitions. If ailing a little the serv- 

 ices of a doctor were required, and after a dose of " tum-tum," or beat- 

 ing upon a hoop covered with a piece of walrus eutrail, and being 

 blown over and slapped in the region of the affected part, they gener- 

 ally got better and the doctor received the credit of saving them. If 



