254 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



the best work got the most money ; but there was })rovision miule for 

 boys. Of course boys could earn but little. The division gave them 

 really more than they earned. 



Q. Were widows and orphans provided for ? — A. Yes, sir ; the com- 

 I)any provides for the widows and orphans. 



Q. Out of this fund? — A. No, sir ; they furnish them clothing and 

 provisions out of the store. 



Q. The company supports them without sharing this fund among 

 them ? — A. Yes ; while I was there. I do not huow about it since. 



Q. Was there any suffering from starvation or freezing among the 

 natives from want of provisions'? — A. I never heard of such a thing. 



Q. What is the moral condition among the natives'? — A. Of course 

 from my own observation 1 could not say anything in regard to that 

 any more than any community, but among themselves they talked out- 

 side and talked to me and the company's agents, and it was stated in 

 their conversation that there was adultery going on among them and 

 very vicious habits. I know that from conversations, but as far as I 

 know personally, I know nothing of it. They appeared as honest as 

 any people can of that class. 



Q. What is the eflect of their association with ihe agents of the com- 

 pany and the agents of the Government in that respect? Does it tend to 

 degrade and make them more demoralized, or do you think it is bene- 

 ficial ? — A. I think it is in a beneficial direction. It can not be other- 

 wise, as far as I know. 



Q. You have seen, I presume, the recentpublications in the New York 

 pai)ers of some wholesale debauchery of native women by whites among 

 the Government agents and the Alaska company's agents there. What 

 have you to say as to the islandsof St. George and St. Paul in that con- 

 nection ? — A. I never knew anything of the kind on the island. Iknow 

 nothing of the kind could occur on the island without my knowledge. 

 If anything of that kind occurred between the natives and any one of 

 the company the Government officers would know at once, because they 

 would report to him. 



Q. Has the company house and salt-house been made a sort of ren- 

 dezvous of lewd'women and bad men? — A. No, sir. 



Q. Or the Government house? — A. No, sir. 



Mr. Macdonald. When were you there last? 



The Witness. 1 left St. Paul Island in 18S4, and arrived in San 

 Francisco in August. 



Q. Then you speak of the condition of things existing while you 

 were there ? — A. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. Have they churches there ? 



The Witness. Yes, sir ; on each island ; the Greek Catholic Church. 



Q. Have they good church buildings? — A. They have a very fine 

 building on St. Paul. 



Q. Who built that? — A. The money was furnished by the natives, 

 but the company sent up mechanics to do the work for them. 



Q. Are priests stationed there all the time? — A. Now there is a 

 priest on St. George, but the first year 1 was there there was no priest 

 there. 



Mr. Macdonald. The priest would have to visit them ? 



The Witness. A priest from Kodiak was sent there. Now they 

 have one residing there when 1 left. 



Q. What w^as the native population of St. Paul and St. George when 

 you left ? — A. I think about 235 on St. Paul and perhax)s IVJ on St. 

 George. 



