CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. Tf) 



a Idndly spirit toward tlie stranger from wliicli we, wlio have greater opportiuiities, miglit learn 

 a wholesome lesson in humanity and self-denial. 



Thus the day passed and tlie journey was at an end. With feelings of intense relief we laid 

 down the burdens and anxieties which had attended our way, grateful, too, for the measure of 

 health and success wliicli had rewarded our efforts. 



GENERAL ^X)TES. 



The native population. — Concerning the native population of the Noatak River region, 

 the siiLject need not be dwelt upon at length. While the region under discussion is entirely 

 new to exploi'ers, the life; history of its people could not be treated at length without repeating 

 many facts which are already well known, and which in the present instance would be highly 



undesirable. 



Bv reference to the travels of Beeehey -and those of other explorers since his time the 

 accounts published concerning the hyperl)orean races of Alaska are simply an oft-repeated tale. 

 Tlie comparatively few and widely scattered inhaliitants of this region are a branch of the 

 Innuit race, or those who occupy all that portion of the territory lying north of the Yukon 

 Rivei-. Considering the vast extent of that region, the population is quite insignificant, num- 

 bering at most three or four thousand, all told. Of this number oidy a very small percentag:> 

 belong to the Noatak country. The difficulty <jf arriving atan exact estimate of the pofadation 

 is quite apparent, and it is doubtful whether the result would rejiay the labor involved in 

 obtaining an actual count. 



Like all the northern races, these people lead a nomadic life, changing their base as often 

 as is necessary to find fresh hunting and fishing grounds. During the summer months a 

 large portion of tke population, or at least the more enterprising portion, journey to the coast 

 for^the purpose of trading, while the more shiftless elements renniin in the villages and enjoy 

 the doubtful honor of assisting the women in fishing. In civilized communities this task 

 might be regarded with more favor, but, if the truth must l)e tohl. the spirit of chivalry is not 

 a pTOminent^characteristic of the average native, and an individual (jf this sort is not apt to be 

 regarded by his fellow-men with any great degree of favor. 



The greater portion of the inhabitants reside near the extreme headwaters of the river, to 

 which place they repair on the api)r(.a,ch of winter. Tins locality is select(>d because of the 

 peculiar advantages it (jffers for hunting and trapping, pursuits which form tlicii- sole means 



of subsistence. 



During the summer months they wander up and down the river, spending much of the 

 time in fishing and providing for the needs of the coming winter. They have no tribal 

 organization ; there is usually mie man in a village who is known as the vomt^lik, or chief, but 

 he\as none of the authority usually implied liy the name, and practically has no power over 

 the others. Shamanism, or the rule of superstition, seems to be the only governing spirit 



among them. 



In justice to these people, however, it should be added there is little need of anything ot 

 the kind. The simple code of right and wrong which enters into their dealings with one 

 another is sufficient to meet all the requirements of their existence, the very simplicity of which 

 is such tliat every individual thoroughly understands it and seldom or never violates the obli- 

 gations carried with it. The men are good fathers, kind to their Avives, considerate of the 

 aged, and in times of need seldom fail to provide for those depending upon them, qualities 

 which testify to the effectiveness of their simple code of morality. To our shame, however, 

 it must be confessed that when brought into contact with our boasted civilization the result 

 has been disastrous to the native, for he readily imbibes the vices, but seldom any of the vir- 

 tues of our race. 



In person the Noiitak natives are much taller than those of the coast, and apparently 

 unm irked by the diseases so prevalent among those of the latter region. They are also a much 

 hardier people, and undoubtedly longer lived as well. The long and arduous journeys of the 

 summer, together with the life of exposure while on their hunting trips in winter, are such as 

 call for the greatest physical endurance, and they could not be performed by other than a hardy 



