June-October 1881, Cruise of the Corwin, Part II Image 75

with alder bark on the inside. The domestic reindeer skins are considered better than those of the wild animals. Wrangel has described the herds as affording a grand sight. At this point the Indians from the interior, and from nay miles up and down the coast assemble once a year in July to trade with each other, with parties of Chukehis who come from Siberia in umiaks, and with the few schooners that bring goods from San Fran. And from the Sandwich Islands. After trading they indulge in games of wrestling, playing ball, gambling, dancing, and drinking whisky, if they can get it. Then they break up their camps and go to their widely scattered homes, some a month’s journey or more up the Inland and down the Colville rivers. They have now about 140 tents set in a row along the beach, their light kayaks in front of the tents in a neat row, each with paddles and spears that belong to it, and in front of these a row of large skin umiaks. They are a mixed, jolly multitude, wearing different ornaments, superb fur clothes, or shabby foreign articles of clothing; one sees long hair, short hair, or closely shaven; here is headgear ofhttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3076/thumbnail.jp