The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft Part 12

_Beechey's Voy._, vol. i., p. 407.

[66] 'Two men sometimes marry the same woman.' _Seemann's Voy. Herald_, vol. ii., p. 66. 'As soon as a girl is born, the young lad who wishes to have her for a wife goes to her father's tent, and proffers himself. If accepted, a promise is given which is considered binding, and the girl is delivered to her betrothed husband at the proper age.' _Franklin's Nar._, vol. ii., p. 41. Women 'carry their infants between their reindeer-skin jackets and their naked backs.' _Simpson's Nar._, p. 121.

'All the drudgery falls upon the women; even the boys would transfer their loads to their sisters.' _Collinson_, in _Lond. Geog. Soc., Jour._, vol. xxv., p. 201.

[67] The '_Kashim_ is generally built by the joint labour of the community.' _Richardson's Pol. Reg._, p. 311.

[68] 'Their dance is of the rudest kind, and consists merely in violent motion of the arms and legs.' _Seemann's Voy. Herald_, vol. ii., p. 63.

They make 'the most comical motions with the whole body, without stirring from their place.' _Kotzebue's Voy._, vol. i., p. 192. Their song consisted of the words: 'Hi, Yangah yangah; ha ha, yangah--with variety only in the inflection of voice.' _Hooper's Tuski_, p. 225. When heated by the dance, even the women were stripped to their breeches.

_Simpson's Nar._, p. 158. 'An old man, all but naked, jumped into the ring, and was beginning some indecent gesticulations, when his appearance not meeting with our approbation he withdrew.' _Beechey's Voy._, vol. i., p. 396.

[69] 'C'etait la plus grande marque d'amitie qu'ils pouvaient nous donner.' _Choris_, _Voy. Pitt._, pt. ii., p. 5. 'They came up to me one after the other--each of them embraced me, rubbed his nose hard against mine, and ended his caresses by spitting in his hands and wiping them several times over my face.' _Kotzebue's Voy._, vol. i., pp. 192, 195.

[70] 'Their personal bravery is conspicuous, and they are the only nation on the North American Continent who oppose their enemies face to face in open fight.' _Richardson's Jour._, vol. i., p. 244. 'Simple, kind people; very poor, very filthy, and to us looking exceedingly wretched.' _McClure's Dis. N. W. Pa.s.sage_, in _Lond. Geog. Soc., Jour._, vol. xxiv., p. 242. 'More bold and crafty than the Indians; but they use their women much better.' _Bell's Geog._, vol. v., p. 294.

[71] 'Their diseases are few.' _Seemann's Voy. Herald_, vol. ii., p. 67.

'Diseases are quite as prevalent among them as among civilized people.'

_Dall's Alaska_, p. 195. 'Ophthalmia was very general with them.'

_Beechey's Voy._, vol. i., p. 345. 'There is seldom any mortality except amongst the old people and very young children.' _Armstrong's Nar._, p.

197.

[72] At Point Barrow, bodies were found in great numbers scattered over the ground in their ordinary seal-skin dress; a few covered with pieces of wood, the heads all turned north-east towards the extremity of the point. _Simpson's Nar._, p. 155. 'They lay their dead on the ground, with their heads all turned to the north.' 'The bodies lay exposed in the most horrible and disgusting manner.' _Dease and Simpson_, in _Lond.

Geog. Soc., Jour._, vol. viii., p. 221, 222. 'Their position with regard to the points of the compa.s.s is not taken into consideration.'

_Seemann's Voy. Herald_, vol. ii., p. 67. 'There are many more graves than present inhabitants of the village, and the story is that the whole coast was once much more densely populated.' _Dall's Alaska_, p. 19.

Hooper, on coming to a burial place not far from Point Barrow, 'conjectured that the corpses had been buried in an upright position, with their heads at or above the surface.' _Tuski_, p. 221.

[73] Kadiak 'is a derivative, according to some authors, from the Russian _Kadia_, a large tub; more probably, however, it is a corruption of Kaniag, the ancient Innuit name.' _Dall's Alaska_, p. 532. Holmberg thinks that the word Kadiak arose from _Kikchtak_, which in the language of the Koniagas means a large island. 'Der Name Kadjak ist offenbar eine Verdrehung von Kikchtak, welches Wort in der Sprache der Konjagen "grosse Insel" bedeutet und daher auch als Benennung der grossten Insel dieser Gruppe diente.' _Ethnographische Skizzen uber die Volker des Russischen Amerika_, p. 75. 'A la division _Koniagi_ appartient la partie la plus septentrionale de l'Alaska, et l'ile de Kodiak, que les Russes appellent vulgairement _Kichtak_, quoique, dans la langue des naturels, le mot Kightak ne designe en general qu'une ile.' _Humboldt_, _Essai Pol._, tom. i., p. 347. c.o.xe affirms that the natives 'call themselves Kanagist.' _Russian Dis._, p. 135. And Sauer says, 'the natives call themselves _Soo-oo-it_.' _Billings' Ex._, p. 175. 'Man verstand von ihnen, das sie sich selbst Kanagist nennen.' _Neue Nachr._, p. 114.

[74] _Tschugatsches_, _Tschugatsi_ or _Tschgatzi_. Latham, _Native Races_, p. 290, says the name is Athabascan, and signifies 'men of the sea.'

[75] _Kuskoquigmutes_, _Kuskokwimen_, _Kuskokwigmjuten_, _Kusck.o.c.kwagemuten_, _Kuschkukchwakmuten_, or _Kaskutchewak_.

[76] The termination _mute_, _mut_, _meut_, _muten_, or _mjuten_, signifies people or village. It is added to the tribal name sometimes as a substantive as well as in an adjective sense.

[77] 'Herr Wa.s.siljew schatzt ihre Zahl auf mindestens 7000 Seelen beiderlei Geschlechts und jeglichen Alters.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p. 127.

[78] 'Es waren wohl einst alle diese Inseln bewohnt.' _Holmberg_, _Ethn.

Skiz._, p. 76.

[79] The Malemutes are 'a race of tall and stout people.' _Whymper's Alaska_, p. 159. 'Die Kuskokwimer sind, mittlerer Statur, schlank, rustig und oft mit grosser Starke begabt.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p.

135. _Dixon's Voy._, p. 186. 'Bisweilen fallen sogar riesige Gestalten auf, wie ich z. B. einen Hauptling in der igatschen Bucht zu sehen Gelegenheit hatte, dessen Lange 6 Fuss betrug.' _Holmberg_, _Ethn.

Skiz._, p. 80. The chief at Prince William Sound was a man of low stature, 'with a long beard, and seemed about sixty years of age.'

_Portlock's Voy._, p. 237. A strong, raw-boned race. _Meares' Voy._, p.

32. At Cook's Inlet they seemed to be of the same nation as those of Pr.

Wm. Sd., but entirely different from those at Nootka, in persons and language. _Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., p. 400. They are of 'middle size and well proportioned.' _Dixon's Voy._, p. 68. 'They emigrated in recent times from the Island of Kadyak, and they claim, as their hereditary possessions, the coast lying between Bristol Bay and Beering's Straits.' _Richardson's Nar._, vol. i., p. 364. 'Die Tschugatschen sind Ankommlinge von der Insel Kadjack, die wahrend innerer Zwistigkeiten von dort vertrieben.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p.

116.

[80] Achkugmjuten, 'Bewohner der warmen Gegend.' _Holmberg_, _Ethn.

Skiz._, p. 5. 'Copper complexion.' _Lisiansky's Voy._, p. 194.

[81] 'They bore their under lip, where they hang fine bones of beasts and birds.' _Staehlin's North. Arch._, p. 33. 'Setzen sich auch--Zahne von Vogeln oder Thierknochen in kunstliche Oeffnungen der Unterlippe und unter der Nase ein.' _Neue Nachr._, p. 113.

[82] The people of Kadiak, according to Langsdorff, are similar to those of Unalaska, the men being a little taller. They differ from the Fox Islanders. _Voy._, pt. ii., p. 62. 'Die Insulaner waren hier von den Einwohnern, der vorhin entdeckten ubrigen Fuchsinsuln, in Kleidung und Sprache ziemlich verschieden.' _Neue Nachr._, p. 113. 'Ils ressemblent beaucoup aux indigenes des iles Curiles, dependantes du j.a.pon.'

_Laplace_, _Circ.u.mnav._, vol. vi., p. 45.

[83] 'They wore strings of beads suspended from apertures in the lower lip.' _Lisiansky's Voy._, p. 195. 'Their ears are full of holes, from which hang pendants of bone or sh.e.l.l.' _Meares' Voy._, p. x.x.xii. 'Elles portent des perles ordinairement en verre bleu, suspendues au-dessous du nez a un fil pa.s.se dans la cloison nasale.' _D'Orbigny_, _Voy._, p. 573.

'Upon the whole, I have nowhere seen savages who take more pains than these people do to ornament, or rather to disfigure their persons.' At Prince William Sound they are so fond of ornament 'that they stick any thing in their perforated lip; one man appearing with two of our iron nails projecting from it like p.r.o.ngs; and another endeavouring to put a large bra.s.s b.u.t.ton into it.' _Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., p. 370. They slit the under lip, and have ornaments of gla.s.s beads and muscle-sh.e.l.ls in nostrils and ears; tattoo chin and neck. _Langsdorff's Voy._, vol.

ii., p. 63. 'Die Frauen machen Einschnitte in die Lippen. Der Nasenknorpel ist ebenfalls durchstochen.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p.

135.

[84] The Kadiaks dress like the Aleuts, but their princ.i.p.al garment they call _Konagen_; _Langsdorff's Voy._, pt. ii., p. 63. Like the Unalaskas, the neck being more exposed, fewer ornamentations. _Sauer_, _Billings'

Voy._, p. 177. 'Consists wholly of the skins of animals and birds.'

_Portlock's Voy._, p. 249. A coat peculiar to Norton Sound appeared 'to be made of reeds sewed very closely together.' _Dixon's Voy._, p. 191.

'Nahen ihre _Parken_ (Winter-Kleider) aus Vogelhauten und ihre _Kamleien_ (Sommer-Kleider) aus den Gedarmen von Wallfischen und Robben.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p. 117. At Norton Sound 'princ.i.p.ally of deer-skins.' _Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., p. 484. 'Ihre Kleider sind aus schwarzen und andern Fuchsbalgen, Biber, Vogelhauten, auch jungen Rennthier and Jewraschkenfellen, alles mit Sehnen genaht.' _Neue Nachr._, p. 113. 'The dress of both s.e.xes consists of parkas and camleykas, both of which nearly resemble in form a carter's frock.'

_Lisiansky's Voy._, p. 194.

[85] 'Una tunica entera de pieles que les abriga bastantemente.' _Bodega y Quadra_, _Nav._, MS. p. 66. 'By the use of such a girdle, it should seem that they sometimes go naked.' _Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., p.

437.

[86] 'Plastered over with mud, which gives it an appearance not very unlike a dung hill.' _Lisiansky's Voy._, p. 214. Sea-dog skin closes the opening. _Langsdorff's Voy._, pt. ii., p. 62. The Kuskoquims have 'huttes qu'ils appellent barabores pour l'ete.' _D'Orbigny_, _Voy._, p.

574. 'Mit Erde und Gras bedeckt, so da.s.s man mit Recht die Wohnungen der Konjagen Erdhutten nennen kann.' _Holmberg_, _Ethn. Skiz._, p. 97. 'A door fronting the east.' _Sauer_, _Billings' Voy._, p. 175. At Norton Sound 'they consist simply of a sloping roof, without any side-walls.'

_Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., p. 484. Build temporary huts of sticks and bark. _Portlock's Voy._, p. 253.

[87] 'In dem Kashim versammelt sich die mannliche Bevolkerung des ganzen Dorfes zur Berathschlagung uber wichtige Angelegenheiten, uber Krieg und Frieden, etc.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p. 129.

[88] 'Le poisson est la princ.i.p.ale nourriture.' _D'Orbigny_, _Voy._, p.

574. 'Berries mixed with rancid whale oil.' 'The fat of the whale is the prime delicacy.' _Lisiansky's Voy._, pp. 178, 195. 'Meistentheils nahren sie sich mit rohen und trocknen Fischen, die sie theils in der See mit knochernen Angelhaken, theils in den Bachen mit Sacknetzen, die sie aus Sehnen flechten, einfangen.' _Neue Nachr._, p. 114. They generally eat their food raw, but sometimes they boil it in water heated with hot stones. _Meares' Voy._, p. x.x.xv. The method of catching wild geese, is to chase and knock them down immediately after they have shed their large wing-feathers; at which time they are not able to fly. _Portlock's Voy._, p. 265.

[89] 'Ich hatte auf der Insel Afognak Gelegenheit dem Zerschneiden eines Wallfisches zuzusehen und versichere, da.s.s nach Verlauf von kaum 2 Stunden nur die blanken Knochen auf dem Ufer lagen.' _Holmberg_, _Ethn.

Skiz._, p. 91.

[90] The Kadiaks 'pa.s.s their time in hunting, festivals, and abstinence.

The first takes place in the summer; the second begins in the month of December, and continues as long as any provisions remain; and then follows the period of famine, which lasts till the re-appearance of fish in the rivers. During the period last mentioned, many have nothing but sh.e.l.l-fish to subsist on, and some die for want.' _Lisiansky's Voy._, pp. 209, 210.

[91] 'Wild animals which they hunt, and especially wild sheep, the flesh of which is excellent.' _Lisiansky's Voy._, p. 188. They eat the larger sort of fern-root baked, and a substance which seemed the inner bark of the pine. _Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., p. 374. 'Die Eingebornen essen diese Wurzeln (Lagat) roh und gekocht; aus der Wurzel, nachdem sie in Mehl verwandelt ist, backt man, mit einer geringen Beimischung von Weizenmehl, sussliche, dunne Kuchen.' _Sagoskin_, _Tagebuch_, in _Denkschr. d. russ. Geog. Gesell._, p. 343.

[92] 'Ihre holzernen Schilde nennen sie Kujaki.' _Neue Nachr._, p. 114.

[93] 'Selecting the roots of such plants as grow alone, these roots are dried and pounded, or grated.' _Sauer_, _Billings' Ex._, p. 178.

[94] 'Die Pfeilspitzen sind aus Eisen oder Kupfer, ersteres erhalten sie von den Kenayern, letzteres von den Tutnen.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p. 118. 'De pedernal en forma de arpon, cortado con tanta delicadeza como pudiera hacerlo el mas habil lapidario.' _Bodega y Quadra_, _Nav._, MS. p. 66.

[95] At Prince William Sound Cook found the canoes not of wood, as at Nootka. At Bristol Bay they were of skin, but broader. _Third Voy._, vol. ii., pp. 371, 437. 'Die kadjakschen Baidarken unterscheiden sich in der Form ein wenig von denen der andern Bewohner der amerikanischen Kuste, von denen der Aleuten aber namentlich darin, da.s.s sie kurzer und breiter sind.' _Holmberg_, _Ethn. Skiz._, p. 99. At Prince William Sound, 'formada la canoa en esqueleto la forran por fuera con pieles de animales.' _Bodega y Quadra_, _Nav._, MS. p. 65. 'Qu'on se figure une nacelle de quatre metres de long et de soixante centimetres de large tout au plus.' _Laplace_, _Circ.u.mnav._, vol. vi., p. 48. 'These canoes were covered with skins, the same as we had seen last season in Cook's River. _Dixon's Voy._, p. 147. 'Safer at sea in bad weather than European boats.' _Lisiansky's Voy._, p. 211.

[96] Their whale-sinew thread was as fine as silk. _Lisiansky's Voy._, p. 207.

[97] The only tool seen was a stone adze. _Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., p. 373.

[98] 'Their sewing, plaiting of sinews, and small work on their little bags may be put in compet.i.tion with the most delicate manufactures found in any part of the known world.' _Cook's Third Voy._, vol. ii., pp. 373, 374. 'If we may judge by these figures, the inhabitants of Cadiack must have lost much of their skill in carving, their old productions of this kind being greatly superior.' _Lisiansky_, p. 178. The Ingalik's household furniture is made 'von gebogenem Holz sehr zierlich gearbeitet und mittelst Erdfarben roth, grun und blau angestrichen. Zum Kochen der Speisen bedienen sie sich irdener, ausgebrannter Geschirre.' _Baer_, _Stat. u. Ethn._, p. 121.