22 ALASKA. 



part of the Russians to save them for the prosecution of the fur- 

 trade. In 1834 thej' nutabered only about 4,000, Kodiak in- 

 eluded, and therefore they have not diminished nor increased 

 to any noteworthy degree during the last forty years. There 

 has been a slight increase, if any, up to the present time. 



When first discovered they were livicg in large " yourtu^' or 

 " oo-laga-muh " houses partially underground, which resemble 

 very much such a structure as our farmers put up for a root- 

 cellar, with the difference only of having the entrance through 

 a hole in the top, going in and out on a rude ladder or notched 

 timber post. Some of these yourts were very large, as shown 

 by the ruins to-day ; one on Ooniinak Island, north side, is 

 over 500 feet in length, with corresponding width, and one at 

 Koshegan, Ounalashka Island, the foundations still standing, 

 shows that it was 87 yards long and 40 wide; and an old 

 woman who was living only two years ago, remembered when 

 her people lived there, and called it " a handsome house." In 

 these yourts they lived by forties, fifties, and hundreds as a 

 single family, with the double object of protection and warmth, 

 where fuel was so scarce and precious. 



For a full account of them as they existed when first visited 

 by the Eussian priests I can do no better than call attention to 

 the history of their lives and condition, as published by Father 

 Veniaminov,* a noble missionary, and who made good use of his 

 time in recording faithfully the custom of a people which has 

 been entirely changed by Christianity in less than one hundred 

 years. As an illustration, showing how exceedingly supersti- 

 tious they were in these early days, I may mention that there 

 is a small stream running into the northwest head of Beaver 

 Bay, Ounalashlia Island, forming a very pretty little water- 

 fall, and near by it is a large mass of dark basaltic rock ; the 

 water of this creek the Aleuts never dared to drink for fear of 

 instant death, and to the stone they paid homage, and revered 

 it as a devil petrified. 



As they are living at this time, nearly every family is in 

 possession of a hut or " barrahkie," built partly underground, 

 walled up on the sides, and roofed over with dirt and sod ; a 

 small window placed at one end, and a low door at the other, 

 which opens into a low, dark alley, which in turn communi- 

 cates with the living-room by another small door. This living- 



* A translation is published in Aliiska and its Kesouroes, W. H. Dull : Lee 

 & Sbepard, 1870. 



