THROUGH WONDERLAND. 
69 
taste, were used as receptacles for the remains of the dead, gathered up after 
cremation. Great sacredness was attached to them. To injure one was to 
insult the family to which it belonged ; to cut one down was an unpardonable 
offense. 
“ The description which I have now given will answer, with some unim¬ 
portant differences, for the native houses as they are found elsewhere.” 
Of the readiness of these Indians to give exhibitions of their savage 
manners and customs for their visitors,—and which one will seldom see else¬ 
where, and never with so little trouble and effort on the spectator’s part,—Dr. 
Lindsley says: “ By previous invitation, the missionaries and their guests 
.assembled at the house of Tow-ah-att, a tyee, or chief of the Stickeen tribe. 
An exhibition of manners and customs had been prepared for us, to show us 
what Indian life had been. * * * The insignia on Tow-ah-att’s 
house were the eagle and wolf, marking the union of two families. A brief 
address of welcome introduced the entertainment. Among the customs shown 
to us by the dramatic representation, were a warrior with blackened face, with 
spear and helmet, and with belt containing a two-edged knife, or dagger ; a 
chief in full dress made of skins and a robe made of the wool of a mountain 
sheep. [For this robe see the illustration on page 81.] Each of these presented 
an imposing appearance. After these, masks aiid effigies appeared ; next, a 
potlatch dance, in which a large number of the natives of both sexes engaged. 
This was followed by dances which were used only upon notable occasions 
which might be called sacred or religious. These dances and the chants were 
regarded by the natives with a species of veneration. We were struck with the 
comparative excellence of the singing which accompanied these dances, dis¬ 
playing a considerable amount of culture. Evidently much practice had been 
bestowed upon the art, as the large number, young and old, who engaged in 
them, observed the musical rests and parts with great precision. A large 
number of whites and Indians were present at this entertainment, and the 
house was not crowded. Our entertainers observed some formalities which 
could do no discredit to the most enlightened assemblies. After an address of 
welcome, and short speeches from visitors, one of the chiefs, Tow-ah-att, 
delivered a formal discourse.” 
Mr. Ivan Petroff, a Russian, of Alaska, who was deputized by the Superin¬ 
tendent of the United States Census of 1880 to collect statistics for his report 
regarding Alaska Territory, finds the following interesting items regarding the 
Indian tribes which the tourist will encounter in his trip to Southeastern 
Alaska : 
“ The outward characteristics of the T’linkit tribe may be enumerated as 
follows : The coarse, stiff, coal-black hair, dark eyebrows, but faintly delineated 
over the large black eyes full of expression ; protruding cheek bones ; thick, 
full lips (the under lips of the women disfigured by the custom of inserting 
round or oval pieces of wood or bone), and the septum of the men pierced for 
the purpose of inserting ornaments ; beautiful white teeth ; ears pierced not 
