FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 227 



Q What kind of a man is be ; an old man, and white-haired ? — A. He 

 is an older man than I am and has white hair. 



Q. What sort of a man is he morally and socially I — A. I never saw 

 anything- in Mr. Webster but what was perfectly gentlemanly. 



Q. What are his habits as to temperance or intemperance ? — A. I 

 never saw him drunk in my life. 



Q. How long did you know him ? — A. Three years. 



Q. It was testified to here yesterday by a gentleman named Gavitt 

 that on at least one occasion — I do not know but it was more — Mr. 

 Webster, at St. George Island, was running through the streets ot the 

 viUage at 3 o'clock in the morning, yelling and whooping, and very 

 drunk. If that had not been sworn to on oath what would be your be- 

 lief about it? — A. I should not believe it. 



The Chairman. Of course the witness has no personal knowledge 

 about this. 



Mr. Jeffries. No ; the question contemplates that. 



The Witness. I lived there three years, and of course there being 

 but few white people on the island, whatever pleasure or pastime we 

 got we had to get it together. We used to have card parties. 



Q. I wish you would state to the committee, if you please, what you 

 know in reference to the Church, the Greek Church, to which these 

 natives belong, and what the habits of the people are with regard to 

 the Church f — A. The Greek Church is the only church there, and the 

 only religion attempted to be promulgated on the islands. Every native 

 is a member of the Church. They are baptized into it when they are 

 children, and they all attend regularly. 



Q. Do they appear to believe in their Church ? — A. I never saw but 

 few but what did. Some few do not. 



Q. Does the bishop ever visit those two islands ? — A. The bishop 

 went up with us the first time I went up. 



Q. What was his name ? — A. I do not recall his name. 



Q. Where is his official residence ?— A. San Francisco. He went 

 up to St. Michaels, and on bis return jumped overboard and was 

 drowned. 



Q. Do you know what the company's instructions are in regard to 

 lion interference in religious matters "? — A. When I went up there I 

 talked that over with Dr. Mclntyre, who said bis instructions were never 

 to interfere in church matters. In the Greek Church they have a great 

 many holidays, and when they have a holiday they must attend church. 

 It appeared to me sometimes as if they bad a holiday almost every day, 

 and it interfered with the sealing during the season. We had a confer- 

 ence with the priests, and arranged the matter so that the workers in 

 the seal fields need not attend. 



Q. Who did that 1— A. The company- 



Q. Was it amicable? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Do the priests have much influence over the people? — A. They 

 have complete control over them. 



Q. They do not have a priest at St. George Island ? — A. Yes, sir ; 

 when I first went there they did not have any at St. George, and the 

 chief carried on church matters. 



Q. Are there any regulations by the Treasury Department for the 

 guidance of the Government agents on those islands ? — A. I do not think 

 there are. 1 never saw any. 



Q. Are there any instructions to the agents by the Treasury Depart- 

 ment ? — A. Yes, sir ; one was a prohibition of the manufacture of 

 " quoss." 



9984 IG 



