iQ CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



domain, a tliorouo-li oxatiiination liy tlio (ilTii-ers of llic Coririii of oacli ami every vessel met 

 (lisclosiug the [H'esenct^ of iiothin.n' of a cniitraband nature. 



Tlie Indians are tr(!ated kindly hy all vessels visitim;- th(^ Arctir. the sailors not kiio\vin<i; 

 how soon, hy reason of some accident, they nuiy be thrown on their t-harity and lie compelled 

 to remain with them and to depend on them for their subsistence until pro])er succoi' arrives. 



Every vessel ciaiising in the Arctic is visited l)y the natives, and inflicted with theii' pre.s, 

 ence. They often remain tweuty-four or even forty-eight hours at a time on board : and fre- 

 quently depend almo.st entirely on the vessels visited for their food during their stay. 



They are the most persistent beggars I have ever seen. Tobacco is the principal object of 

 their beggary, and they never pretend to eat their own food as long as they can beg that of the 

 white man. 



A glance at their cnisine readily discloses what, to civilized beings would be a sufficient 

 reason for their mendicaiu-y. 



Census. — Owing to the nomadic or migratory nature of the Indians of Alaska, it is not 

 only difficult but impossible to form anything more than a rough estimate of their popuiaticm. 

 They travel from oiu^ village to another along the coast, and from island to island Jind the 

 mainland, for the purpose of hunting, fishing, and trading, and are often met several hundred 

 miles from their homes. 



From jiersonal obser\'ations. covering a period of about fifteen years, I wonld estimate the 

 number of Indians inhabiting the coast and islands, from Point Barrow to St. Michael's, at 

 three thousand; and the number of interior Indians between those two j^oints at about two 

 thousand. 



NAVIGATION. 



What I have stated in reports of previous years ctmcerning the dangers and difficulties of 

 Arctic navigation will apply with equal force to the present. The prevalence of foggy or cloudy 

 weather nuikes it imixjssible at times to obtain astronomical observations; and even when ob- 

 tained they are not entirely to be relied on, on account of the great refraction and indistinct 

 horizon. 



The currents are not constant either in force or direction, being controlled entirely by the 

 ice and wind. Dead-reckoning is almost worthless, and the safety of the vessel and its crew 

 depends on the use of the lead and on the exercise of constant vigilance. 



Experience in these waters is of paramount importance. On portions of the Alaskan coast 

 the general contour of the land is unchanged for many miles, and it requires exi^erience and 

 judgment to establish the identity of certain points of land and thus ascertain the position of 

 the vessel. The approach to the mainland is, with few exceptions, marked by regiilar and 

 gradual shoalings, which make the use of the lead of great service, and invaluable in thick 

 weather. On nearing the islands, however, the shoalings are very abriipt. and do not change 

 perceptibly until in close proximity to the land. The birds which infest the islands shriek out 

 a warning in their fright, being put to flight by the noise of the fog whistle. One cannot help 

 thinking that in these remote and dangerous regions Providence has made jirovisions for the 

 sailor that are in nearer and more safe and familiar waters left to the woi-k of man. 



When in the vicinity of the ice the vessel was conned from masthead by the officer of (he 

 deck or by myself. This position was necessary in order to ol)tain an Tinobstructed view of t Ik^ 

 surroundings, and to select the l)est ])assages or leads through the ice. No one unaccustomed 

 to Arctic navigation can fully appreciate the impoitance of extreme watchfulness, caic. and 



judgment. 



SOUNDINGS AND DREDGINGS. 



During the cruise in the Beliring's Sea. and Arctic Ocean we took .soundings fi'om the dale 

 of leaving Golwin Bay, June W. imtil our .nrival at St. Paiil, September t>ii. The soundings 

 were made each hour when imder way and steaming any distance from the In.nd, liut when 

 tracking along close to the shore the lead was in constant use. These soundings were all care- 

 fully noted; and will be located on a chart of those waters, when finished, to be submitted to 

 the hydrographic office in San Francisco. 



