66 OUR ARCTIC PROVINCE. 



our officials have endeavored to carry out the prohibition statutes, 

 yet the matter thus far is wholly beyond control — the savage can- 

 not only smuggle successfully within these intricate watery chan- 

 nels, but he now thoroughly understands the distillation of rum it- 

 self from sugar and molasses. 



There is something in this atmosphere which enables a white 

 man to drink a great deal more with impunity than he can in any 

 other section of the United States or Territories — the quantities 

 of strong tea, the nips of brandy, wine, and cordials which he will 

 swallow with perfect physical indifference, in the course of every 

 day of his life, at Sitka for instance, Avould drive him to delirium 

 in an exceedingly short time if repeated at San Francisco. Naturally 

 enough, we find that the same craving for stimulants is reflected 

 by Indian stomachs ; and now that they have fully grasped the 

 imderstanding of how to successfully satisfy that aching, no valid 

 reason can be presented why the Thlinket will not continue to 

 gratify a burning desire in this fatal direction to the ultimate ex- 

 tinction of his race. This fault of our civilization is far more potent 

 to effect his worldly degeneration, than any one or all of our com- 

 bined virtues are to regenerate his earthly existence. 



