hrdi.i.ka] WKITEIfS TRIP OK YUKON 65 



burials. The bones are mostly in good condition. The boy arrives 

 with several empty gasoline boxes, we gather drier grass and moss, 

 and pack right on the spot, eventually get to the boat, strike off as 

 far as possible from the shore so none could see what is carried, and 

 proceed to Walker's storehouse. Old Indian and his old crony 

 nevertheless stand on bank and look long at us. In storehouse boxes 

 closed, later delivered by the boy to the mail boat, and so that much 

 is saved; for were it not collected, in a few years the weather, vegeta- 

 tion, and animals, human and other, would destroy everything. 



Moreover, the utmost care is taken always to leave everything in :i- 

 good shape as found; and the remains taken will be treated so well 

 and may give us so much that we need that there is no more hesita- 

 tion in securing them than there would be on the part of a paleon- 

 tologist in securing old bones for his purposes. 



For supper, though it is still early, am invited by Simel. an elderly 

 Jew mail carrier. Have fine meat-and-potato soup, lettuce-and- 

 cucumber salad (even if the cucumbers from the Holy Cross hot- 

 house are overripe and bitter), fresh (storage) meat, cooked dried 

 apples, and poor but hot coffee — all seasoned with the best will and 

 genuine, simple friendliness. 



Max Simel, whose home is at Ophir, has been in this country 29 

 years, and "never needed to buy a quarter's worth of medicine." 

 Has a wife in Seattle, also a daughter and a son; has not seen them 

 for four years. Wants me to call on them and tell them I met him. 

 With his companion, Paul Keating, of Holikachakat, gives me some 

 interesting information. They tell me independently and then to- 

 gether of an occurrence that shows what may happen along this great 

 river. A well-known white man and woman, prospectors on their 

 mail route, have last year thawed and dug out a shaft, nearly 40 feet 

 deep, through muck and silt, to the gravel, in which they hoped to 

 get gold; and just before they reached the gravel they found a piece 

 of calico, old and in bad condition, but still showing some of its 

 design and color. 



7 p. m. It rains, but wind has moderated, and so near 7 p. m. 

 ■we start on our way farther down the river, stopping just long enough 

 at Holy Cross to attend to my reservation for St. Michael. The agent 

 has no idea when the boat will go — maybe the 11th, maybe not until 

 the 14th or later. 



Going on an old leaky scow with an elderly, faded, chewing, not 

 very talkative but for all that very kindly and accommodating man, 

 who with one hand holds the steering wheel and with the other mos( 

 of the time keeps on bailing. He carries supplies for his store and I 

 my outfit, camera, and umbrella. Sky has here and there cleared, 



