Kalitan, Our Little Alaskan Cousin

nd the camp-fire that evening. The snow had continued during the afternoon, and the boy

. "I learned much there. They teach the boys to read and write and do su

od for Indian wives, and white men not marry them. Best for girls to

ains back of the harbour? The people said the woods were full of game, but we didn't have time to go hunting. There are a few shops

shrug of his shoulders, "quick g

aughed Ted. "They told me there it hadn't shone but f

hom our fathers worshipped. He is angry, and lo! he hurls down icebergs in his wrath, he tosses them about, upon the streams he tosses the kyaks like feathers and washes the land with the waves of

d at Kalitan in open-mouthed amazement. A boy who could ta

litan," but the Indian was sil

when you are at home?"

plenty. If he has lived as a good tribesman, his kyak glides smoothly over the silver waters into the sunset, until, o'er gently flowing currents, it reaches t

islands, so there is plenty for firewood. But upon our island the women gather a vine and dry it. They collect seaweed for food in the early spring, and dry it and press it into square cakes, which make good food after

ly cold hunting in th

to be taught. Every morning I bathed in the ocean, even if I had to break ice to find water, and then I rolled in the snow. After that my uncle brushed me with a switch b

felt cold all over at the idea of b

e Shaman[4] used to cast him out, but now the white

g, but did not like to ask too many question

is not very

the most terrible,"

asked Ted, eagerly, bu

he is very terrible. If the white men will not allow any more the punishing of the witches,

re, and spoke so suddenly that Kalitan collapsed into silence. Ted, too, quieted down at the old chief's ster

t country, and gave him valuable information as to the route he s

he said. "Camp with us. We remain here one week, then we go to the island. We ca

r island?" as

eagerly upon his father. It was easy to se

oward where the white coast-line

r from one camping-ground to another, seeking the best game or fish. But Kalitan's people remain always on the island. Him I take with me to hunt the whale and

d Mr. Strong, curious to see what the old Indian w

selves and leave nothing for the Indians. Russians teach quass, Americans teach whiskey. Before white men came, Indians were healthy. They ate fish, game, berries; now they must have other foods, and they are

dian. It teaches our boys useful things in the schools, and, if some of its people are bad

he doings of all its servants. I should like to see this island home of yours,

said Ted, and he and Kalitan

y comes," said the old chief, smiling, "

ked Ted, timidly, for he was very

his uncle, and the old chief, looking

the story of the

d not have complained, but the chief was evil and he cursed the whiteness. No one should dare to speak evil of the Snow Spirit, which comes from the Unknown! Deeper and deeper grew the snow. It flew like feathers about the eglu,[5] and the slaves had many troubles in putting in limbs for the fire. Then the snow came in flakes so large they seemed like the win

ose a place where he should lie dow

nd spare!' But the Snow Spirit answered not, only the wind screamed around the eglu, and his screams were terri

and it was a blue jay. The chief heard and saw and wondered, and, looking 'neath the smoke-hole, he saw a scarlet something upo

mer,' he cried. 'L

ed it without sail or paddle, with all the people rejoicing. And after a time the wind carried them to a beach where all was summer. Birds sang, flowers bloomed, and be

r island, and so we say when the snow

d, who had not lost a word of this quaint tale, told so

TNO

h inhabits the body of sick persons and mus

, native m

]