3<) INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



and .started oti' A conference was held in the pilot house between the 

 captain, myself, and the two deer men. They looked over samples of 

 our Imrtor goods and discussed the matter somewhat with Peter, the 

 trader. It was a new problem to them. The}^ had frequently slaugh- 

 tered deer and sold them for food, but had never been asked to sell their 

 deer alive to be carried off the}" knew not where. They finalh' con- 

 cluded not to come to any decision until the arrival of the third deer 

 man and they had had an opportunity of coming to an understanding 

 among themselves. In the meantime a number of sacks were sent 

 ashore to be filled with food for the reindeer while en route. 



After dinner Peter, the Russian, and the deer men were taken 

 ashore to wait initil the arrival of the third man. 



July 4: Rained all day. No natives on board. It was the most 

 quiet day we have had on the trip. At noon a salute of 21 guns was 

 fired in honor of the day. In the evening the launch was sent over to 

 the village to learn if the third deer man had arrived. No tidings 

 yet. 



July 5: Launch was sent earh^ to get news of the deer man. At 

 6.30 p. m. the launch was sent again. No tidings. The captain has 

 concluded that he can not wait longer. One of the deer men has 

 agreed to let vis have some reindeer without waiting on the others. 

 His herd is a few miles down the ba} , and we will go there early 

 to-morrow morning. 



July 6: Hove anchor at 6 a. m, and got under wav. Crossed 

 over to Sibir, on the northwest side of the bay. Peter, the inter- 

 preter, and three Koriak deer men were brought on board. At 7.41 

 a. m. we were again under way for the reindeer herd, on the east side 

 of the bay, which was reached at 11.35 a. m. The interpreter and 

 deer men were at once landed. At 1 p. m. 1 went ashore and 

 remained on shore until work was stopped in the evening. Fifty- 

 three reindeer were received on board during the afternoon, after 

 which, up to 10.30 p. m., the Koriaks were being paid off for their 

 deer. 



Jul}' 7: At 6.30 a. m. Lieutenant Bertholf and the men went ashore 

 for deer. Received on board 47 reindeer. At 11.30 p. m. the deer 

 men came aboard for pay. At 3 p. m. the steam launch and boats 

 were sent ashore for more deer and moss, and at 5.45 returned with 

 deer, the interpreter, and three Koriaks who wished to return with 

 the ship to Sibir. At 6.35 under wav. At 10.10 we came to anchor 

 at Sibir. The three deer men that came with us were paid off in bar- 

 ter goods for their reindeer, which took until 1.30 a. m. 



July 8: At 7.40 a. m. Lieutenant Bertholf, with the steam laimch 

 towing cutters and men, left for the village across the bay to procure 

 moss. At 8 a. m. a boat was sent to fetch Peter, the interpreter. 



