214 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Mr. Morgan was at that time, I believe, on tbeislaud, and when I told 

 him there was some objections to my move in that direction ; that if it 

 was understood ou the inside, that is, the States, that the company peo- 

 ple were not teaching- the people English, but instead of that they 

 w^ere retarding them, that the people ou the inside might say that they 

 refused talking English to them that they might not be able to teil 

 something they did not want told. 1 called his attention to it in that 

 way, and he said I was right about it and that he would do what he 

 could. The next day I met a little boy going to the rookery and he 

 said to me, "Good morning, captain," knowing that would please me. 

 I said to him, "Good morning, my boy 5" but almost immediately be- 

 hind was a man of the company coming close by, and he said, " Dres- 

 ter " (the boy's words in Aleut). He knew the order was given the day 

 before, and this was only the next day. In that way some of the com- 

 pany people have been so spoiled that they think they own everything 

 that belongs to the Government. The officers have not done their 

 duty in showing them that the Government owns and governs that 

 island. 



Q. While you were there did the company perform its contract faith- 

 fully with the Government and natives in regard to sui)i)lying the na- 

 tives with food ? — A. Yes ; they supplied coal, salt, and schooling, as 

 far as it goes. 1 do not think it was a very good school, and that what 

 was taught them at school in the day-time was forgotten at night. I 

 have copied the reports sent my superior, which reports show for 

 themselves. My reports were objected to by my superior, for some 

 reason, but they are here. They are hearing Aleut too much at the 

 company's house, and at the store, and at the dance, and what they 

 learn in the day-time they forget very soon by not hearing English. 

 There are but few on the island who talk any English; one or two 

 fairly. You can not hold much of a conversation excei)t with a man 

 named Peter Kezanzofl". He talks English very well. I will give you 

 an instance how one officer will try to show his authority and interfere 

 with another officer trying to do his duty. Whenever I had occasion 

 to have conversation with them or lecture them, I would have to call 

 this man Rezauzottin. He was very obedient to me. I made him chief, 

 but when my back was turned away from the island he was removed. 

 The agent and company people found some excuse to remove him. 



Q. Were there any rapes committed there while you were on the isl- 

 and that came under your observation? — A. Not that I know of. The 

 people are very timid and cowardly, and the Government officer and 

 the company people can push them over and do just about as they 

 please. Shortly after I got there — several months — I called up the 

 priest and the men and told them the state of affairs was very bad and 

 they must correct it or that the Government would send them to the 

 Aleutian Islands to live on codfish ; that this Government could not 

 afford to have such a black spot in existence. Having church ten times 

 a month and then have such a state of affairs in morals was disgusting 

 to contemplate. The people have not courage to resist anything done 

 against them. It is something that should be corrected. He said he 

 hc;d been doing his duty, but could not get any help from the Govern- 

 ment officers. There was only one officer that I found recorded as try- 

 ing to help, and that was Mr. Marstou. He makes a record here. He 

 says here: 



It is very evident that unfit and selfish men have been in charge here, pandering 

 to the people at times that they might be able at other times to have the j)eop]e un- 

 der their control for selfish purposes. I hope the end of such is at hand. 



