THE GREAT ALEUTIAN CHAIN. 



185 



complain, however, of inability to find fish whei-e they usually found 

 them in abundance prior to these earthquakes. Redoubled atten- 

 tion, however, is paid to the salmon when they run, and thus the 

 deficiency is made up. 



Before the coming of the Russians, Oomnak was one of the 

 most populous islands ; then there were over twenty villages, some 

 of them quite large. One was so big that " the inhabitants of it 

 were able to eat the carcass of an enormous whale in a single day ! " 

 The most stubborn and independent spirit displayed by the Aleutcs 

 prior to their subjugation was exhibited by the inhabitants of this 



An Aleutian Mummy. 

 [Unrolled from its cerements.] 



island. The four or five thousand hardy savages which the pro- 

 mishlyniks met here in 1757-59 have dwindled to a microscopic 

 number of less than one hundred and thirty souls, who reside at 

 Nikolsky to-day. They enjoy a somewhat better climate, for a good 

 deal less snow falls here than at Oonalashka, and the small vege- 

 table-garden does much better than elsewhere, except at Attoo. 

 They raise domestic fowls, and have a very fair sea-otter catch 

 every winter, when they scour the south coast, and reside for months 

 at Samalga, hunting that animal. Furious gales which prevail 

 during certain seasons drive kahlans out upon the south beach, 



