DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 85 



ger of such a condition of affairs ever arising, and a white man among 

 them, if every one was in possession of one of the latest improved fire- 

 arms, would be just as safe as he is to-day. 



Occasionally a native is found who lias a repeating rifle, purchased 

 on some whaling vessel or from someone on the Siberian side, where 

 there appears to be no opposition to the traffic. The law is practically 

 a dead letter all through Alaska, and it is so often broken that nothing 

 is thought of it; yet it affords to those who deal in rifles an excuse for 

 charging an exorbitant price for them. 



It has occurred to me many times, wheu watching the herders chase 

 quite a distance to bring back to the herd a few deer that had wandered 

 off, that shepherd dogs would be valuable among them. I can see no 

 reason why they would not be equally serviceable among reindeer as 

 with sheep. A deer is naturally afraid of a dog. So is a sheep. But 

 the latter will graze within a few feet of one if he is making no demon- 

 stration of attacking him, and feel perfectly secure. I have noticed 

 the same thing with reindeer, and have often driven alongside of a 

 team of dogs and they were perfectly quiet. It might be found neces- 

 sary to breed the shepherd dogs to those of this country in order to 

 make them useful in cold weather, but this could doubtless be doue 

 aud preserve the instinct of herding in the breed. 



A visit to an Eskimo hut in winter would convince one that they 

 should have something in the way of a stove or fireplace, different from 

 their oil lamp. It answers very well for warming their houses, but it 

 is not sufficient for drying the moisture that accumulates. 



The Eskimo leave their lints just as soon as the first thaw comes in 

 the spring, and live in tents from that time until snow comes in the 

 fall. Most of the huts have an apartment cut otf from the little 

 passageway that furnishes the means of entrance to their living-room, 

 which is used for cooking. It is a miserable excuse for that purpose, 

 filling with smoke with the least lire, and to breathe at all one must 

 almost lie flat on the ground. 



There is stone near enough to every settlement with which to build 

 fireplaces, and with the abundance of fuel at hand, they could make 

 their huts comfortable in this way. One or more could be built at the 

 station if some sheet iron, together with iron for log rests, were sent 

 here. 



As it is the purpose of the Government to relieve these people from 

 their sufferings, a reform should be instituted in the matter of their 

 houses. Lumber could be kept on hand and furnished at cost, with 

 which to build floors and ceiling or roofs for their houses. They could 

 construct them with logs, as now, but it is impossible to make them 

 water-tight without lumber for the roofs. They could pay for it in 

 work or furs, and I have no doubt, if the opportunity were afforded them 

 to procure it in this way, they would all take advantage of it. 



A large and comfortable house should be constructed at the expense 

 of the Government, built partly underground, for the accommodation 



