Alaska -- Antiquities; Eskimos; Eskimos -- Anthropometry; Indians of North America -- Alaska; Indians of North America -- Yukon
I am kindly received by Mr. Fullerton and his wife and given
accommodation in their house. On the part of the good-sized Indian
village everything is life and bustle and we soon are over. Motor
launches owned and operated by the Indians in the river; dogs, scores
of the big, half-wild, noisy sled dogs tied to stakes along the slope
of the bank, fighting stray ones, barking in whole outbursts, feeding
on smelly fish, or digging cooling holes into the bank in which they
hide most of the body from the warm rays of the sun; and many Indians,
about 400 in all, in whole families, in houses, large canvas tents,
cooking, eating, visiting--a busy multitude, but with white man's
clothes, utensils, etc., not nearly so interesting as a group of more
primitive Indians would be.
Walk, visit, talk, and observe. Note many mix-bloods, especially among
the younger ones and the children. Among the full bloods, many, about
one-half, with features reminding more or less of Eskimoid; but a few
typically Indian, i. e., like most of the States Indians.
Medium stature, substantial but not massive build, quite a few of
the older women stout. Color of full bloods generally near medium
brown, features regular Indian but not exaggerated, noses rather
low especially in upper half, eyes and hair Indian. Epicanthus not
excessive in children, absent in adults (traces in younger women), eyes
not markedly oblique. Behavior, Indian.
The more pronounced Eskimoids have flatter and longer faces, more
oblique eyes, and more marked epicanthus. They should come, it would
seem, from Eskimo admixture. The Tanana Indians (Nenana) did not, so
far as seen, show such physiognomies.
Toward evening, and especially after supper, natives sing and dance.
Songs of Indian characteristics, and yet different from those in south;
some more expressive. A song "for dead mother," very sad, affects some
to crying aloud (a woman, a man). A wash song--a row of women and even
some men imitating, standing in a row, the movements in washing, while
others sing; humorous. A dance in a line, curving to a circle, of a
more typical Indian character. Late at night, a war dance, with much
supple contortion. Also other songs and dances up to 2.30 a. m.--heard
in bed.
June 19. With dogs barking and whining and Indians singing, got little
rest. All Indians sleep until afternoon. No chance of doing anything,
so go down to town to get instruments and blanks. Find that storekeeper
has an old stone ax--sells it to me for $1. Also tells of a farmer
who has one--go there with the boat and obtain it as a gift; told of
another one--a Finn--has two, sells them for $1. Come from the gravelly
bank of the river or are dug out in gardening. There may well have been
old settlements in this favorable location. After return, visit some
tents to see sick. Much sickness--eyes, tuberculosis--now and then
probably syphilis.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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