DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 137 



running a week or more without being able to get near the shore, on account of the ice, 

 we left for Point Barrow, stopping at the different places along the coast up to that 

 point. At Point Hope Dr. Driggs came on board. He looked much better in person 

 than the previous years; he impressed us favorably. He remained on board with as 

 until late at night. The captain was much pleased with him and his conversation. 



Arriving at Point Barrow we found things at the Refuge House in a better condi- 

 tion than last year. The 75,000 feet of lumber were landed all along the beach at 

 Point Barrow. They could not land it at one place on account of ice, which was 

 quite heavy on the beach. But the captain doubts if there will be much of it there 

 next year, as no one seemed to take the trouble to pile it up during the two weeks 

 Ave were there. The captain allowed Dr. Beaupre to live for this year in the sta- 

 tion, but gave him the little house, in which Mary lived, to hold the school in. Mr. 

 Kelley was well and very much improved in looks from last year. You remember he 

 looked quite miserable. Although the ice was in large cakes around us, yet we were 

 quite safe so long as the wind lasted in the northeasterly direction. The pack was 

 not far from us. As you can imagine, we had to keep constant watch of its move- 

 ments. They told us the northeast wind had been blowing constantly for thirty- 

 three days, and was still the same when we left. The Jennie Wand went ashore, and 

 the captain got her off without any damage. 



This is the vessel that took up Mr. Browers supplies. After his lumber was 

 landed Mr. Brower had two stone houses built for his goods, while we were there. 

 He had ouly the natives to help him. He and Mr. Kelley employ nearly all (if not 

 all) the natives between them. Hearing there were four vessels in a critical condi- 

 tion in the ice, we remained some ten days longer to render them assistance if neces- 

 sary. At the end of that time the ice opened a little, and they came out. Every- 

 body thought they were doomed. Seeing them safely out, we left and returned to 

 the Siberian coast. Meantime, whisky-trading for deer had reached Cape Serdze, 

 and with exactly the same results. The captain calculates tbat Mr. Bruce's action 

 has lost him a hundred deer or more, besides augmenting the expense. We went to 

 Cape Serdze, as it was pretty clear of ice. During this clear interval on the north 

 side the Indians held off in hopes of compelling the captain to sell whisky. As the 

 ice began to come in and they saw it useless to wait for whisky, they began to bar- 

 gaiu. Tourassie offered 100 deer, which the captain accepted, but before they could 

 be taken off, the ice drove the vessel out to sea. The old fellow was on board for four 

 days before he made a move to trade. Milka was the same, holding off to the last. 

 However, wegot 26 deer from him. The captain held on so long, notwithstanding the 

 ice comiug in, that we lost our propeller in forcing our way out of the ice. Once 

 out of the ice, we steered for Kocodillin's place. Here was the same, "No whisky, 

 no deer." Here the ice came in, as last year, only much heavier. Still we hung on 

 and procured 19 deer. More were beyond. So Mr. Jarvis was dispatched to get 

 them as quickly as possible, but before the deer were caught he was hurried on 

 board. 



Great fields of ice, owing to a northwest gale, began to crowd into the bay. We 

 were in a few hours completely hemmed in. Then began the ramming and pushing 

 to get out. I thought a dozen times we would lose another propeller. But every- 

 body was on deck with ice poles to keep it clear, if possible, of the propeller. It 

 was indeed a hard fight, and we were all relieved when we reached clear water. In 

 all the trips you have made, you never saw such beavy ice and never saw such a 

 struggle to get out of it. We were no sooner out than there came a dense fog. 

 During the night a heavy northerly gale came up and we were obliged to heave to, 

 with no chance to land anywhere, and no food for the deer. Tbe captain decided to 

 go to Port Clarence, which we reached safely through wind and fog the next day. 

 They were all glad to see us. Our long absence made them begin to fear we were 

 lost, for when we left we told them we should return in a week, and we did not 

 return for six weeks. We found everybody well. Mr. Mayo died a month previous, 



