70 ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY IN ALASKA [eth. ANN. M 



cleans and cuts up — a whole art of its own — on the average over 200 

 good-sized salmon a day. Clean place, very good smoking house — ■ 

 much superior to those up the river, except Tucker's. 



Sleep in a clean bed of theirs; would much prefer my own and 

 the hard floor, but fear to offend. 



Russian Mission 



Pack my stones and bones collected between here and Holy Cross, 

 and after lunch go to Russian Mission. Meet Mr. Cris Betsch. the 

 trader, and find him both friendly and anxious to help. Teacher 

 and her mother invite me to supper. Before that Mr. Betsch calls in 

 a number of the older men, and we have a talk about ancient things, 

 but they know nothing worth while beyond a few score of years at 

 most; they give me, however, some data and names of old villages. 



A few years ago some human bones and skulls were dug up here 

 and reburied. Eskimo readily agree to help us find them and to let 

 me take them. Moreover, they are quite eager to dig up an old medi- 

 cine man supposed to be buried under a good-sized (for this country) 

 blue spruce. They get shovels, soon find some of the old bones and a 

 damaged skull, and later on, with the help of information given by 

 an elderly woman, uncover also a female skull. Uncover further 

 the end of two birch-bark-covered coffins, from Russian time, and 

 would readily dig them out did I not restrain them; as also with 

 the medicine man. We shall probably get some such specimens from 

 this locality later, so there is no need of disturbing the burials. 



Mrs. Barrick, the teacher, gives us a " civilized " supper, at which I 

 am introduced for the first time to a great and fine Yukon specialty, 

 namely, smoked raw strips of king salmon, and find them excellent. 

 Then a good talk with all, after which pack specimens — still some- 

 what damp, but it would be difficult to wait — deliver to the post, and 

 am sent to my place around the hill at a little past 10 p. m. with an 

 invitation by Mr. Betsch to go to-morrow to " the slough of the 32 

 kashims (council or communal house)," about 10 miles down the 

 river. But I have already been promised by Gurtler to take me 

 down to this place, and so I can not accept. Just now I need sleep. 



July 7. After breakfast examine banks and beach along Gurtler's 

 place and find two stone implements, two pieces of decorated pot- 

 tery, and a bone of some animal. Wash, dry, and pack, then a cup 

 of coffee — the Gurtler's have a habit of drinking a second cup at 

 about 10 a. m. each day — and then, after some of the seemingly 

 inevitable trouble with motor, start down the river. It rained yes- 

 terday; the clouds show low pressure; it is not warm and the water 

 is somewhat rough. 



