B8I1LICKA] WRITER'S TRIP ON YUKON 87 



should be night). The ramshackle big frame hotel, with partitions 

 so thin that they transmit every sound, got about 40 guests, and next 

 room to mine came to be occupied by two women who had visitors, 

 female and male, were taken out for a ride after 12 and returned 

 about 2 a. m. One of them, or their visitor, had a perpetual vocal 

 gush, the others chimed in now and then, and a strong male voice 

 added the bass from time to time, with old Fords noisily coming 

 and going outside, and people going up and down the stairs. So 

 sleep for some hours was out of the question. And there was nothing 

 to do about it. 



After breakfast went to meet Father Lafortune, a Catholic mis- 

 sionary priest to the Eskimo, who speaks their language well and 

 who promised to accompany me to their habitations; and together 

 we spent the forenoon on one side of the town, among the natives 

 of the Diomedes, and most of the afternoon on the other end among 

 the people from King Island. It was a good experience, resulting 

 in seeing a good many of the Eskimo and getting some information, 

 a few photographs, and quite a few old specimens. Then we went to 

 the parsonage, where I got a few good photos from Father Lafor- 

 tune's collection. He is a matter-of-fact, always ready to help, 

 natural he-man, rather than a priest and teacher, and a great prac- 

 tical helper to the natives, who all are his friends. 



Also saw Judge Lomen, arranged for lecture to-morrow, saw 

 Captain Ross about the Bear, and various other people; but there 

 is not much to be obtained here about old sites and specimens. Tele- 

 graphed Institution, and also to the Russian consul at Montreal for 

 permission to visit the Great Diomede Island. Evening packing. 

 Natives bring walrus ivory, some excellent pieces. Weather whole 

 day cloudy, threatening, occasional showers, cool but not cold. 



Sunday, July 18. Heavy sleep 10 p. m. to 7 a. m., regardless of 

 a typewriter going in the next room and the women (now quieter, 

 however) on the other side. 



Forenoon spent in talking with people and attending a little 

 service, for the natives mainly, at the Catholic Church of Fathers 

 Post and Lafortune. Poor, simple, but sincere and interesting. 



After lunch more consultations, then a visit to bank where they 

 smelt gold dust (even to-day), and then a lecture on " The Peopling 

 of America," at the courthouse. Well attended, and many came to 

 shake hands after. Then a dinner, with examination of a number 

 of interesting and valuable specimens, at Judge Lomen's. Among 

 other objects there is a duplicate, in ivory, of the broken double ax 

 from the Yukon, the two grooves and even the break being well 

 represented. Evening — examination of specimens at Reverend Bald- 

 win's. Cloudy, cool, threatening, but stormy weather abating. 



