19() INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



last year hero. 80 really th(> people have not had long- contai't with 

 civilized people yet. The}^ show improvement. 



With reference to the school children, those who attended with even 

 approximate regularity displayed great capability. They are obsei*v- 

 ant and imitative and possessed of excellent memories. In general, 

 the children arc self-reliant, tractable, playful, affectionate, and desir- 

 ous to please. They are sure-footed, climbing over blocks of ice and 

 stones on the mountain side, strong and steady in climbing up over 

 tlu> sides of a ship, some of the older ones essaying to climb the rig- 

 fiiuj". 



In general, the natives are self-conlident; in some instances con- 

 ceited, I fancy. This leads them to readily lay aside old wa3's for 

 lunv. What changes they do make, they doubtless choose without 

 any outside promptings. The}^ are exceedingly sensitive to ridicule 

 or disparagement, and bitterly resent such an offense to their pride. 

 They are (juick tempered, but do not ''luirse a grudge" after the 

 fashion of an Indian. Their wrath can be appeased. They are 

 courageous in hunting and brave in facing certain death. I believe 

 that they are a very well developed people, both in mind and bod}^ 

 and capable, under other conditions, of the best things. Possessed of 

 large hearts, as well as sound minds and vigorous bodies, they are 

 capable of })eing christianized and civilized in the not distant future. 



MORALS. 



As to traits of character, there are among them, as elsewhere, the 

 good, the bad, and the indifferent, but the types are more strongly 

 o])ser\al)le here than among more enlightened peoples. On. the aver- 

 age, self-interest is the dominating principle in the community. Dis- 

 interested philanthropy would not be easily apprehended l\y them. 

 Covetousness is a marked trait, but is explainable and pardonable in 

 view of the greed exercised by former traders and whalemen among 

 them. In self-defense, the}' seek and demand as much as possible 

 in ])art(n-ing and are not easily satisfied. ]\Ianv are guilty of klepto- 

 mania. The disgrace of stealing here is not so great as among the 

 Eskimos on the mainland of Ahiska. who, 1 understand, sometimes 

 put a thief to death. A liar and purloiiuM- of his neighbor's goods 

 suffers loss of respect from the other more reputabk^ members of the 

 community. Quite a large number are not above misrepresenting the 

 quality of goods in barter. The family life is certainly, as referred 

 to already, a ver}' beautiful one, and if altruism is not very apparent 

 in any ver}' marked "tribal self," one would feel inclined to condone 

 all the faults in the relations with the community in general, in view 

 of the Hnt^ character displayed in the home. Possibly some are not 

 far even now from the "Kingdom," as evidenced by domestic affec- 

 tion and love. 



1 



