42 ANTHROPOLOGICAL, SURVEY IN ALASKA [BTH. ANN. 48 



could anything remain and there it is all a jungle of forest with un- 

 dergrowth, with all surface traces absent (no stone, no shell), and no 

 one here to find things accidentally. As to the hills that approach 

 the river, the slopes (shales, overlain by what looks like stratified 

 mud and silt rock) are mostly of recent exposure, and have doubt- 

 less been receding slowly through erosion, so that the bank line along 

 them is not old ; and their valleys are few, narrow, and were higher 

 formerly as well as more extended toward where the river flowed 

 then. The only hopeful spot is about Hot Springs, where fossil 

 animal remains are said to exist, but here nothing as yet has been 

 noted suggesting ancient man. 



June 18. 4 p. m. River getting broader. Some low dunes. In 

 distance a range of bluish hills before us — the hills along the Yukon. 

 Boat meandering from side to side. Every now and then a necessary 

 steam blow-out of mud, or a short whistle, hurry of a man over the 

 toj) of the barge and of two half-breeds along its side to the prow 

 to test, with long pointed and graduated poles, the depth of- the 

 water, calling it out to the captain. The calls range from " no 

 bottom " to " 4 feet," at the latter of which the boat begins to touch 

 and back water. 



5 p. m. Arrived at Tanana, a cheerful looking town, extending 

 over about half a mile along the right bank of the Yukon, here 

 about 20 feet high ; but now, with the gold rush over, rather " slack " 

 on both business and population, as are all other Yukon towns. 

 Somewhat disappointed with the Yukon — not as majestic here as 

 expected. See storekeeper — introduced by captain. Hear good news. 

 The Indians have a big potlatch at the mission, 2 miles above. 

 Tanana Indians expected. And there will be many in attendance. 

 Rumors of this potlatch were heard before, but this was the first 

 definite information. Get on a little motor boat with Indians who 

 were making some purchases, and go to the St. Thomas Episcopal 

 Mission, Mr. Fullerton in charge. 



THE INDIANS AT TANANA 



The mission above Tanana is beautifully located on the elevated 

 right Yukon bank, facing Nuklukhayet island and point, the latter, 

 according to old reports, an old trading and meeting spot of the 

 Kuchin tribes, and the confluence of the Tanana with the Yukon. 

 The mission house, located on rising ground, the wooden church 

 lower down, the cemetery a bit farther up, and the Indian village a 

 bit farther downstream, with their colors and that of the luxuriant 

 vegetation, form a picturesque cluster. 



I am kindly received by Mr. Fullerton and his wife and given 

 accommodation in their house. On the part of the good-sized In- 



