HUMAN EVIDENCE OF UPLIFT 45 



lines are very clearly preserved, as did Russell in 1890 and 1891 ; and both 

 Russell and Gilbert are widely known for their studies of abandoned 

 shorelines. Moreover, the Harriman ship, the George W. Elder, sailed 

 twice very close to the site of the present uncharted reefs north of Haenke 

 island. In the absence of other evidence, these facts might not be con- 

 sidered conclusive scientific proofs of the absence of uplifted shorelines 

 in June, 1899, and they are therefore offered merely as suggestive facts 

 bearing upon the question. 



NATIVE TESTIMONY 



The natives, however, tell us definitely that the uplift took place in the 

 fall of 1899 and in connection with the earthquake at that time. They 

 assert, moreover, that there has been no movement since then, and that 

 there had been none in recent years before 1.899. 



Natives notoriously tell you whatever you want them to, especially if 

 they can not speak your language well. Therefore in questioning the 

 natives care was taken not to suggest by a question the answer desired. 

 We were fortunate in having with us an exceedingly intelligent and well 

 educated native, J. P. Henry, a Sitka Indian, long resident at Yakutat, 

 who both spoke and wrote English well. Again and again he pointed out 

 to us places, even before we reached them, where changes of level had 

 occurred. He took an intelligent interest in our Avork and helped us 

 materially; and in all the many cases where verification was possible we 

 never once found him making misstatements. He, and our other native 

 by his translation, told us of the earthquake; of the fish left stranded by 

 the receding sea (some doubtless thrown up by the earthquake wave) ; of 

 the appearance of new islands ; of the uplift of beaches and sea caves ; and 

 of the whitened bryozoan film — all striking changes between the two 

 seal hunting seasons of 1899 and 1900. 



No uplift took place at Yakutat, where the whites live. These white 

 men seldom penetrate the inner bay, and, with the exception of one or 

 two prospectors, appear to know nothing of the details of the change of 

 level, nor to care about it. One of the prospectors, W. H. Thompson, 

 who knows the bay well, verified the testimony of the natives. But since 

 the Indians hunt seal up the bay every spring, especially in Disenchant- 

 ment bay, where the uplift was greatest, and are familiar with the coast- 

 line in intimate detail, their clear and definite statement as to the time 

 of occurrence of the change requires no corroboration, once we are con- 

 vinced that their testimony is honestly given, as is undoubtedly the case 

 in this instance. As has been shown, however, even this clear and definite 

 testimony is but one of a series of proofs, all of which point to September, 



VI — Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. 17. 1905 



