. Alaska and its resources. ose ofreading the ecclesiastical books of the Greek Church, although theyunderstand hardly anything of their contents. It is to be regretted very much that their talent for drawing andpainting has never been promoted. I am convinced that they wouldbecome artists above mediocrity. They are very skilful workers inivory (walrus-tusks) without instruction. I saw in the possession ofBaron Wrangell a number of characteristic representations of are very fond of cutting caricatures of the Russians, and oftenmake an excellent likeness of the person intended, tho
. Alaska and its resources. ose ofreading the ecclesiastical books of the Greek Church, although theyunderstand hardly anything of their contents. It is to be regretted very much that their talent for drawing andpainting has never been promoted. I am convinced that they wouldbecome artists above mediocrity. They are very skilful workers inivory (walrus-tusks) without instruction. I saw in the possession ofBaron Wrangell a number of characteristic representations of are very fond of cutting caricatures of the Russians, and oftenmake an excellent likeness of the person intended, thoughvery grotesque. This shows that they have vivid imagi-I nations and faithful memories. The talent for carving above alluded to, is ex-emplified by the accompanying sketch of an image,or caricature, of one of the sailors of Wilkess Ex-pedition. The sailors shoes, pea-jacket, and modeof wearing the hair, are accurately represented, andthe general effect is very comical, as was doubtlessAleut carvbg. intended by the ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS. 401 The Iimiiit Tribes. — The Innuit of Alaska extend everywherealong the coast, from Mount St. Elias northward to Point Barrow,and eastward to the Mackenzie. Tlie Ugaldknmts.— Beginnint^ at the southward, this is thefirst Innuit tribe on the west coast of America. Their hunting-grounds extend from Icy Bay nearly to the mouth of the Atna orCopper River. We only know of their existence and mode of lifeby a vocabulary obtained by Mr. Gibbs from the Russian traders,and by the statements of the latter, that they form a body ofsome two hundred families, who chiefly live by fishing. Betweenthem and the next tribe the Indians of the Copper River haveforced their way, and hold a small portion of the coast. The Chugdchignmts.— These Innuit occupy the shores andislands of Chugach Gulf, and the southwest coasts of the penin-sula of Kenai. They are few in number, compared with thelarge extent of territory which they occupy, but are describ
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