I ALASKA: ITS HISTORY, INDUS TRIES, ETC. g 



As Russian is still taught in the schools and at such places as 

 Kenai, where the natives are also taught English during two 

 or three months, their ideas must be somewhat mixed. An 

 old resident of the latter place, who is an American, told me 

 that the priests still teach the natives that they owe allegiance 

 to the Tsar of Russia ; and he also stated that not long ago 

 an intelligent half-breed came to consult him concerning the 

 possibilities of a war between Russia and the United States, 

 and asked under which flag he as a loyal subject ought to 

 fight. 



A curious instance of the superstitious dread in which 

 the priests are held, and also of the ease with which a man 

 can live in this country, came to my notice near Unga 

 Island. A native of that island who had committed some 

 petty misdeed fell under the displeasure of the local priest, 

 and, fearing some dreadful calamity, disappeared from the 

 village. Nothing was heard of the man for months, until he 

 was finally discovered living on the shore of an island many 

 miles from any human being. Here he had built himself a 

 small barabara, or native dug-out hut, with the sides and 

 roof made of driftwood logs, and a bed of dry grass inside. 

 His sole clothing was an old shirt, and his only implement 

 part of an old hunting-knife. Thus he had lived for eighteen 

 months, his food being berries, fish, etc., which he collected 

 along the shore ; and when taken home to his people he 

 looked fat and well. Small wonder, then, that these men 

 are lazy by nature and independent to such a degree that 

 they will only accompany visitors on hunting- trips as a 

 matter of favour, and then only — at least in the neighbour- 

 hood of Unga Island — at the exorbitant pay of two and a 

 half dollars per day, which wages they can easily earn, if so 

 inclined, by working in the mine on the island. With the 



