288 The American Geologist. May. isa-j 
sprinkled wide apart, or clustered in groups such as only Nature 
could invent. Some are so small and low the trees covering them 
seem like mere handtuls that have been culled from the larger 
islands and set in the water to keep them fresh, the outer fringing 
trees around the sides oftentimes spreading like flowers leaning 
out against the rim of a vase. Thus thoughtfully beautiful are 
these blessed islands; and their beaut}' is the beauty of youth. 
For though the softness of tiieir verdui-e must be^ascribed to the 
copious and warm moisture in which ihej' are bathed, from the 
mild ocean-current that comes from Japan, the Japan current that 
bathes these shores is itself young, while the ver}' existence of the 
islands, their main features, finish and peculiar distribution, are 
directl}' referable to the structure of the rocks, and the action of 
ice upon them during the glacial period, now drawing to a close. 
The first stop made b}' the Alaska steamers after touching at 
Seattle, Port Towusend, Victoria and Nanaimo, is usually' at Fort 
Wrangel, the distance between the last two places being about 600 
miles. Wrangel is a boggy place, but is favorabl}^ situated as a 
center for excursions to some of the most interesting portions of 
the country. Indians mny be seen on the platforms of the half 
dozen stores, chiefly grim women and cubb}', chubby children with 
wild ej'es. Most of them have curiosities to sell when a steamer 
arrives, or a basketful of berries, red, 3'ellow and blue, which look 
wondrous clean as compared with the people. The}^ are a proud 
and intelligent race, nevertheless, and maintain an air of self-re- 
spect that no amount of frazzled raggedness and squalor can 
wholly subdue. Man}- canoes may be seen along the shores, all 
fashioned alike, with long beak-like sterns and prows. What the 
mustang is to the Vacquero the canoe is to the Indian of the 
Alaska coast. Yonder 3'ou see a whole family, grandparents and 
all, making a direct course for some islands five or six miles away. 
They are going to gather berries, as the baskets show. Nowhere 
in my travels north or south have I ever seen so many berries. The 
woods and meadows are full of them — huckleberries of man}' species, 
salmonberries, blackberries, currants and gooseberries with straw- 
berries and serviceberries in the drier grounds, and cranberries in the 
boo-s,sufl3cient for every worm, bird, beast and human being in the 
territor}', and thousands of tons to spare. The Indians beat them 
into pulp, press the pulp into cakes about an inch thick, and dry 
them for winter use with their oily salmon. So fruitful is Alaska. 
