40 ANTHROPOLOGICAL, SURVEY IN ALASKA [ETH. ann. w 



are better, more human. Meals $1, the almost universal price in 

 Alaska. 



Some quaint expressions : When anyone has been away, especially 

 to the States, they say he was "outside." I am an "outsider;" 

 show it " by my collar." Underdone bacon is " easy." To assent 

 they say " you bet." In a restaurant, to a decent, cheerful girl : 

 "May I have a little hot coffee?" "You bet !" Which bright 

 answer is heard so often that one finishes b}' being shy to ask. 



Dogs, of course, do not pull, but " mush." This is from the Cana- 

 dian French " marche." Dogs do not understand " go " or " go on," 

 only " mush." 



Extensive flats. Below Nenana these flats, plainly recent alluvial, 

 are said to extend up to 60 miles to the left (south westward) and to 

 20 miles to the right. As one passes nearer they are seen to range 

 from 3 up to about 8 feet above the level of the river at this stage 

 of water. 



Cabins and fishing camps along the river, mostly flimsy structures, 

 with a few tents. Indians in some. The Indians are said by the 

 whites to be pretty lazy, living from day to day; yet they seem 

 industrious enough in their own camps and in their own way. 



Storage or caches, little houses on stilts. Dog houses in rows. 

 Curious wheel fish traps, revolving like hay or wheat lifting ma- 

 chines, run by the current. They scoop out the fish and let them fall 

 into a box, from which the fisherman collects them twice a day. It 

 is the laziest fishing that could be devised. The contraption is said 

 to come from the northwest coast, but has become one of the char- 

 acteristic parts of the scenery along the Tanana and the Yukon. 

 An Indian camp — stacks of cordwood — canoes.' 



The day is sunny, moderately warm and rather dry — about as a 

 warm, dry, fall day with us. The river shows bars, with caught 

 driftwood ; also considerable floating wood. There are seagulls, 

 said to destroy young ducks and geese and water birds' eggs. 

 Shores now wooded, mainly poplar, not large. Farther back and 

 farther down, spruce. 



The. river averages about 200 to 300 yards but differs much in 

 places and there are numerous side channels (sloughs). It is crooked ; 

 man}? bends. The current is quite marked, stated to run 4 to 6 miles 

 an hour. The water is charged with grayish-brown silt, part from 

 glaciers higher above, part from banks that are being " cut." The 

 banks are entirely silt, no trace of gravel or stone. Indian camps 

 getting very scarce. Boat making good time, but now and then re- 

 quires careful manipulation, with its big, heavy barge in front. Once 

 driven to shore, but no damage, and after some effort gets away 

 again. No trouble yet from mosquitoes, but there are some horseflies. 



