44 
tinned industry and improvement. ... In carving figures 
from walrus tusks, or the tusks of the fossil mammoth found in 
Kotzebue Sound, the Aleutes display patience, and in many ca¬ 
ses considerable ingenuity, constructing out of walrus tusks 
small figures of hunters, rock, seal and fish, representing the 
practice of seal-hunting, making mimic representations of their 
dancing and musical entertainments, etc. In hunting the sea- 
otter and seal they exhibit their tenacity of purpose by watching 
for days at a time rather than lose the object of their pursuit. 
They do not use the bow and arrow, but the small ivory-headed 
spear, thrown with the aid of a hand-board, and their exhibi¬ 
tions of skill proved their expertness and proficiency. Most of 
the crews of the Russian Company’s vessels are composed of 
Aleutes. Another peculiarity in their favor:—at Unalaska, 
whenever a woman was one of two or three persons in a bidarka, 
she was not compelled to use the paddle, as we have heretofore 
invariably seen on the Pacific coast. The women are very in¬ 
genious in making a great variety of stitches in their sewing, 
and those of Unalaska have always been noted for skill in the 
beauty of their sewing. No murder has been committed among 
the Aleutes for the last fifty-two years, and when the last oc¬ 
curred the whole race was horror-struck.”— Davidson. 
The Christian inhabitants of Alaska, doCile, kind and hospit¬ 
able, expert in mechanism and skillful in maritime adventure, 
possessing sufficient intelligence and self-pride, and in every 
respect worthy to enjoy “ life, liberty and the pursuit of happi¬ 
ness,” became citizens of our Great Republic by no act of theirs. 
By a dash of the pen they were guaranteed all the rights, privi¬ 
leges and immunities of American citizens in the terms of the 
treaty of March 30, 1867, as follows : “ The inhabitants of the 
ceded territory, according to their choice, reserving their natural 
allegiance, may return to Russia within three years ; but if they 
should prefer to remain in the ceded territory, they (with the ex¬ 
ception of the uncivilized native tribes) shall be admitted to the 
enjoyment of all the rights, advantages and immunities of citi¬ 
zens of the United States, and shall be maintained and protected 
in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property and religion. 
The uncivilized tribes will be subject to such laws and regula¬ 
tions as the United States may from time to time adopt in regard 
to aboriginal tribes of the country.” 
Notwithstanding the explicit assurances of the treaty, the 
