THl^. ESKIMO ON ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND, ALASKA. 



By William Furman Doty, Teacher. 



GEOfiRAPlIICAL NOTE. 



Situated in the extreme northern part of Bering Sea and ahoiit 150 

 niile.s .south of Bering- Strait, St. Lawrence Island rises above the sea, 

 the product seeniingh' of volcanic action in remote ages, presenting 

 to tlie eye of the navigator who skirts its coast a tortuous line of baj^s 

 and promontories, with their inevital)le accompaniment, the sand spit, 

 witli higli clitfs for the most part along the shore and mountain peaks 

 in the distant interior. The beach generally is very narrow and steep. 

 There is only one harbor that is perfectly sheltered from the action of 

 the sea. It is at the mouth of a river that drains a large lake and is 

 situated on the southern coast, possibl}" 20 miles northwest from Cape 

 Chitnam. Vessels can get under shelter, of course, in the lea of many 

 of the capes, and yet in stormy weather would do better by giving the 

 island a wide berth. Some skill is required in making a landing on 

 the lieach in a whaleboat or skin canoe, except on very calm days. 



The Avestern section of the island, as far as I have observed it and 

 can gather from the i"eports of the natives, is well supplied with lakes 

 and adjacent marshes, while there are a few ranges of mountains and 

 some peaks. During the summer season a few varieties of flowers, 

 grass, and a marsh berry of two sorts relieve the dreary wastes of 

 shingle near the shore and the otherwise monotonous tundra in the 

 interior. Mosses of se\'eral varieties are to ])e found here, but not in 

 any great quantity; but al)ound, I am informed, in the eastern half, 

 which is not primarily a lake i-egion, but is mostly given over to 

 mountain peaks. There are live rivers which drain the lake section. 

 One has been already mentioned as flowing southward; another empties 

 near the Southeast Cape, while the other three flow northward. Sal- 

 mon abound in these streams. 



Beyond the vegetation referred to already, there is nothing else: 

 and the temperature, (n'en In the smumer time averaging less than 40°. 

 would not warrant the introduction of grain seeds or vegetable tubers. 

 It is needless to state that a tree could not thi'ivc iiere. 

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