214 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



other three meals during the daj^, as meat is only parboiled, and per- 

 haps more frequently is eaten raw. The food consists of the meat and 

 blubber of whales, walruses, and seals, the flesh of ducks and fish, 

 together with some varieties of kelp, sea urchins, and crabs. Thej^ 

 are fond of imported articles of food and drink, such as flour, molasses, 

 sugar, candy, caimed preserves, preserved and dried fruit, rice, with 

 tea, coffee, and condensed milk. The man of the house makes ready 

 for the hunt, not failing to take a lunch with him. Five or six dogs 

 are harnessed abreast to a sled, to which a "trailer" is attached to 

 carry an}^ game that may be secured in the hunt. With his gun slung 

 in a case over his shoulder, he fastens his harpoon and seal hook on 

 his sled, and when mounted cracks his whip and is borne rapidl}' along 

 by his dogs over the snow and ice to his hunting place. The bojrs 

 follow their father on foot, having a gun or a harpoon. The women 

 or girls of the household busy themselves during the day in cleaning 

 seal meat from the bones, in preparing the meals, dressing skins by 

 aid of their strong teeth, and making from them garments, boots, and 

 mittens. The intestines of the walrus have to be thoroughly cleansed 

 by means of water and pebbles, and when dried are to be made into 

 rain coats. Calico blouses, also, are to be fashioned for the protection 

 of their fur garments. The little girls are taught to sew miniature 

 articles of dress, and gradually prove very serviceable to their mothers 

 in sewing and other household duties. The father returns from the 

 hunt after an absence of possil)ly ten hours, and is ready for his sup- 

 per. In the evening the family may receive some guests or entertain 

 themselves in various ways, doubtless the father and boys relating the 

 incidents of the day's hunt, while the women and girls in their turn 

 narrate the interesting events that have transpired within the house 

 during the day. Such, in general, is the programme during the late 

 fall and winter. With the breaking up of the ice in the late spring, 

 for the men there is a slight change in the daily routine, inasmuch as 

 they then go in whaleljoats in pursuit of whales, walruses, seals, and 

 ducks, abandoning their dogs and sleds temporarily. I understand 

 that there is a stei'eotyped programme for the wom^n and girls in the 

 matter of dressing skins and sewing them into suitable articles of 

 clothing. 



CHIKF ASSOONE'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



The first captain who brought a ship to this place was Captain Sal- 

 mon, who came about forty years ago or earlier. He traded for whale- 

 bone which he saw rotting on the ground. The people had no use for 

 the bone except the small slabs which they used in making fishing line 

 and thread, and they threw the big slabs away. After observing tjiat 

 Captain Salmon was willing to trade for this bone, the people saxed it. 

 The second captain was named Moore, and came when Assoone was 



