106 OUR ARCTIC PROVINCE. 



abode in this " Leesnoi " settlement. A few small, tough Siberian 

 cattle, such as we saw at Neelshik, Cook's Inlet, are roaming about 

 here, cared for by the natives who prize milk ; also several of these 

 same bovines are to be seen at Kadiak, where they are limited also 

 to a few head, on account of the trouble of winter attendance and 

 loss from bears in the summer pasturage. 



An odd, weather-beaten faded little building is pointed out by 

 the natives with pride and animation, as the house in which a 

 " soul-like man " — a Russian monk made his abode for thirty con- 

 secutive years, teaching the children of the village and those of 

 the neighboring towns, who flocked here in great numbers to be 

 instructed. He taught the Russian alphabet, so that the church 

 service might be intelligible ; also rudimentary art-princii^les, 

 gardening and divers useful habits for such youth. This unique 

 shrine is in the heart of the next village closely adjoining, and 

 which is located on Spruce Island, or "Yealovnie," as the seventy 

 odd Russian Creoles Avho live there call it. It is a little hamlet 

 of only fifteen small log houses, very neat and clean ; and the pret- 

 tiest of flower-j)ots within the scant windows give you a far-away 

 thought as you observe them. Here is also one of the tiniest of 

 Greek chapels, in which the natives are regularly joined by the 

 small number of those of Oozinkie village (a little way off) and just 

 across the straits ; these peojjle, who have no church, are also j)ure 

 Creoles, and unite in perfect accord with those of Si^ruce town. 



Near by, on the southern shore of Afognak Island, is the largest 

 settlement of the " old colonial , citizens " in the Territory ; three 

 hundred and thirty of these people are living here in a very pictui- 

 esque and substantial village ; a large chapel, which is also used as 

 a school-house, is the distinguishing architectural feature, while a 

 number of newly-built row-boats for fishermen, on the stocks, in a 

 miniature shipyard, point to an industry worthy of attention. The 

 town is sj^read over a large landed extent, which in many places 

 between the dwellings is devoted to vegetable gardens. More 

 land is under cultivation here than all the rest so treated in 

 Alaska to-day ; the crops of potatoes, cabbages, turnips, and garden- 

 salads, like radishes, etc., seldom fail except in very backward 

 years. No ploughing* is done ; the earth prepared for potatoes is 



* On Wood Island, however, ca small field of rye, oats, or barley, is planted 

 every year for the use of the horses kept there ; here a plough is employed. 



