256 COUNTER-CASE OF GEEAT BRITAIN. 



Ibid., p. 232. Dr. Dall also states in this letter, that the Aleut natives 

 were absolutely dependent upon the Company leasing the 

 Pribyloff Islands for sea-lion skins with which to make 

 their canoes; and that, contrary to the Russian practice, 

 this Company sold such skins to the natives, and restricted 

 the sale to such of the natives as brought furs to them for 

 sale. He adds: 



Ibid., p. 234. The descriptiou of inen who gain their liveliliood as fur-traders are, 

 witli rare exceptions, unfit to be trusted witli absolute power over 

 unresistiuj; natives, uotwithstaudiug the possible high character of 

 the distant heads of the Company who employ them. 



He further adds : 



ABSENCE OP LAW OH REDRESS. 



Ibid., p. 233. There is absolutely no law, no means of protection, no redress for 

 injury for any citizen of the United States, to say nothing of natives. 

 . . . . Suppose some act of gross injustice should occur, in what 

 way would the unfortunate Aleut make his troubles known, if his long 

 experience under the Russians, and disappointed hopes under the 

 various visits of United States officials, had not taught him that the 

 best way was to bear it in silence. 



Ibid., p. 237. In- respect to the absence of law and any prospect of 

 redress at this time, Mr. Elliott fully concurs with Dr. 

 Dall, though contesting some of his other statements. 

 Dr. Dall further writes: 



Ibid., p. 233. There are no grounds for stating, nor is it my opinion, that the pres- 

 ent Company has abused its position more than any other would do 

 in the same case; this, however, is not the question at issue, but 

 whether it is consistent with the honour of the Government and with 

 its duty toward a people who occupy the position of wards of tlie 

 United States, to leave them in a condition where the grossest tyranny 

 is possible, and where gradual degeneration and relapse into barbarism 

 is certain. 



LIEUTENANT MAYNAKD, 1875. 



Lieutenant W. Maynard, TJ. S. l!^., in his Report trans- 

 mitted in 1875, alludes to one of the matters referred to by 

 Dr. Dall as follows: 



H. R., 44tli As the Special Agents of the Treasury Department, who are the 

 Con^., 1st Si'ss^, only representatives of the Government at the islands, have not 



Ex. 1)00. 43, p. /. oQ-j^ been invested as yet with any governing power, it seems neces- 

 sary that some means should be provided for securing to all 

 equal protection in the rights of persons and property. This could 

 be accomplished for tlie present, at least, by giving them authority 

 somewhat simihir to that of a .Justice of the Peace, making them 

 responsible to the Secretary of the Treasury for the proper perform- 

 ance of that duty, as tliey are for that of those with which they are 

 now charsred. 



'o^ 



AGENT W. B. TAYLOR, 1881. 



Mr. W. B. Taylor, who was a Special Agent of the Treas- 

 ury Departmeut on St. George Island in 1881, says of the 

 condition of the native people at that time: 



H^ R-. 50th When I landed on St. Paul Island I found that the people were in a 



Report No 3883' "^'^''y deplorable condition — made so by the frequent and constant use 



p' 42. ' of what is known as quass, a beverage which they brew when they 



are not molested by the Special Agent of the Treasury. I found thar 



at least one-third the people were in a condition which made it impos- 



