84 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



While, Avc Avcrc tit Potropiivlov.sk the trader of the Riissitm Sealskin 

 Coinpan}^ stationed at Karaj^a had arrived and informed us that on 

 this island was a herd of 8,000 reindeer. Accordino- to his state- 

 ment, about twelve years ago the ice between the Karaginski Island 

 and main land became so firm that a band of reindeer had been driven 

 across to the island, and these had increased until now there were 3,000. 

 He said that the Koriak owners, being cut off from all markets, would 

 make haste to let us have all we could carrj^ in return for the supplies 

 with Avhich Ave could furnish them. At Karaga the starosta (Russian 

 official) whom w^e had l)rought with us to the island placed the num- 

 ber of reindeer at 2,000 head. That there might be no unnecessary 

 delays, the trade goods Avere lirought on dock, the litters for carrying 

 the hobbled deer and sling for hoisting them on shipboard Avere made, 

 and the pens cleared out for their reception on deck. Lieutenant 

 Ulke and Dr. Call Averc sent ashore to procure the headman of the 

 island and bring him aboard. At 4.15 p. m. the boat returned Avith 

 the leading deer owner. He was furnished with crackers and a cup 

 of hot tea in the pilot house, and the captain proceeded to negotiate 

 for the deer, Avhen, to our extreme disappointment, Ave found that the 

 people had no reindeer to spare; that Avhile it was true that a year 

 ago thcA" had from 2,000 to 3,000, during last winter an epidemic had 

 broken out among the deer and there were but a few over a hundred 

 left. All our expectations Averc in a moment dashed to the earth. 

 He Avas willing to let us have five, ))ut as it would require three days' 

 time to go to the herd and drive them to the sea, we could not afford 

 to Avait for so fcAv. The people seemed A'ery poor. The population 

 of the island numl)ers 27. The island is about 00 miles long and 

 traversed l)y a snow-covered range of mountains 2,000 feet high. 

 Foxes, bears, and ptarmagin are found upon the island. Reindeer 

 moss abounds everywhere. 



June 29: At 5.15 a. m. avc got under way for Karaga to return the 

 starostas, lA'an, and his friend. Anchorage was reached at 9.35 a. m. 

 The steam launch, with steam alroad}^ up, was lowered into the sea 

 and Lieutenants Bertholf and Gaml)le, Dr. Call, the two Koriaks, four 

 sailors, and m3^self started with the steam launch and boat in tow for 

 the shore at 9.55. A\'ithin 2 miles of the village the Avater shoaled 

 until the steam launch could go no farther. Dr. Call, Ivan, and I 

 got into the ding}' with the understanding that when we reached 

 shore aac Avould send the dingy back for Lieutenants Bertholf and 

 Gamble. When we were about a mile distant from the village the 

 dingy went aground. As Dr. Call had on rubber boots, he and Ivan 

 Avaded ashore, Avhilc the two sailors and I sat tAvo hours in the boat until 

 the tide had turned, and Avith considerable lifting and pushing the boat 

 was once more got afloat. We then returned to the ^e^am launch. 

 Putting the native ashore on the sand spit, we returned to the «hip, 



