102 ALASKA. 



obtain the necessaries of life— such as seal-meat, hard bread, 

 tea, &c. — sleep most of the time when unoccupied in cooking, 

 eating, and the daily observance of the routine of the Greek 

 Catholic Church. Their religious duties alone preserve them 

 from absolute stagnation ; for, in obedience to its teachings, 

 they attend church quite regularly, make and receive calls on 

 their saiuts' days, which are very numerous, and their birth- 

 days are generally enlivened with home-brewed beer, or " quass," 

 upoii which all classes become more or less intoxicated. They 

 add to these entertainments of the emannimilc the music of the 

 accordeon, an instrument of which they are very fond ; and a 

 great number of the women in particular can play indiffer- 

 ently a limited selection of airs, many of which are the old 

 battle-songs and ballads so popular during the rebellion, and 

 which the soldiers quartered here in 1869 taught them. From 

 the soldiers, also, they learned to dance various figures, and to 

 waltz. These dances, however, the old folks do not enjoy, and 

 they seldom indulge in them, unless under the influence of beer. 



From the following statement it will be seen that these people 

 are doing better work every succeeding season ; for example, 

 90,000 seals were taken this year in sixteen days less time than 

 it took to get 75,000 in 1871, viz : 



In Saint Paul's Island, 1871, 55 days' work of 66 men secured 

 75,000 seals. 



In 1872, 50 days' work of 71 men secured 75,000 seals. 



In 1873, 40 days' work of 71 men secured 75,000 seals. 



In 1874, 39 days' work of 84 men secured 90,000 seals.* 



This shows plainly that they are in better physical condition 

 than at first ; it furnishes also undeniable proof of the undimin- 

 ished supply of killable seals. 



INHABITANTS OF SAINT PAUL, JULY 1, 1870, TAKEN PROM 

 PHILIP VOLKOV'S LISTS, AUGUST 8, 1873. 



[The names in italics are either dead or absent from the island at the present writing.] 



1. Philip Keemachneelc. 6. Mareena, his wife. 



2. JSffroseenia, his wife. 7. Alexsander, his son. 



3. Ivan, Ms son. 8, Sylvester, his son. 



4. Danelo, Ms son. 9. Eefeem Anoolanalc. 

 6. Vasseele Seedoolee. 10. Matroona, Jiis wife. 



*This increase of 15,000 on Saint Paul was made this season with a 

 Bimila,! reduction on Saint George; the proportion of seal-life being small on 

 the latter compared with the former. 



