38 ANTHROPOLOGICAL, SURVEY IN ALASKA [bth. ann, 46 



Burials. — -At a few minutes' walk from the school at Eklutna 

 there is in a clearing of the forest a small Indian village, with a 

 late graveyard showing Russian influence. A short distance 

 farther, however, according to the Indians, there is an old burial 

 place of some magnitude, with traces of graves, although quite 

 obliterated. 



Eklutna — Fairbanks. — Since reaching Seward the almost inces- 

 sant drizzles have ceased and the weather has been fine and pleasantly 

 warm. Everything is green, grass is luxuriant, and there are many 

 flowers. 



The railroad journey is a regular scenic tour, with its crowning 

 point a glorious view of Mount McKinley. The trains run only in the 

 daytime. For the night a stop is made at a railroad hotel, in a 

 quiet, picturesque location, at the edge of a good-sized river. They 

 have foxes in cages here and a tame reindeer. There are no natives 

 in this vicinity. 



There are two interesting passengers on the train, with both of 

 whom I became well acquainted. One is Joe Bernard, an explorer 

 and collector (besides his other occupations) in Alaska and Siberia. 

 He furnishes me with some valuable pictures and much information. 

 The other man is Captain Wilkins, the flier of Point Barrow fame, 

 who strikes me as an able and modest man. 



The next day, as the train stops at Nenana, I am met, thanks to a 

 word sent by Mr. Noel W. Smith, by Chief Thomas and a group of 

 his people. These behave kindly and tell me of a potlatch to be held 

 at Tanana " after some days," where they will visit. The chief im- 

 presses me with his rather refined though thoroughly Indian 

 countenance. 



Fairbanks. — Before reaching Fairbanks, the inland capital of 

 Alaska, I am met by Prof. C. E. Bunnell, head of the Alaska Agri- 

 cultural College. This college, located on an elevation about 4 miles 

 out of the city, I visit with Professor Bunnell soon after arrival, to 

 find there some interesting paleontological and archeological collec- 

 tions. Here are fair beginnings which well deserve the good will of 

 the Alaskans. Unfortunately the college has not yet the means 

 for any substantial progress or research in these lines, and the collec- 

 tions are housed in a frame building where they are in serious danger 

 from fire. But their presence will aid, doubtless, in the saving of 

 other material of similar nature from the Tanana region, and speci- 

 mens of special scientific importance will doubtless be referred to 

 scientific institutions outside. 



Fairbanks is a good-sized town, built on the wide flats of the 

 Tanana River. Its population, now reduced, includes some civilized 

 natives, most of whom, however, are mix breeds. A lar^e petrified 

 mammoth tusk on the porch of one of the semi-log houses shows 



