record at Fort Yukon, latitude 66° North, where the mean summer heat is 60°, or equal very nearly to that of London, 60° 3′; Stockholm, 60° 4′; and St. Petersburg, 60° 6’. Still, we do not yet
William's Sound; the Atnaer, who work in iron and copper, and several other tribes—in all numbering many thousands of active and energetic people.
The next great nation is the Km‘
infer that an abrupt transfer of the seats kulc/zewak, living on the Lower Yukon, of Eastern empire will be made to the and on the Kouskokvim river, southward valley of the Yukon, whatever the of the Yukon. They dwell in winter in Kutchin, the Eskimo and the Dog-Rib regular villages, and in summer travel Indians may for centuries past have inland to obtain provisions, and to trade done on that memorable tract. Again, at the great markets of the Yukon Val Sir John Richardson is our authority for ley. They are very generous and public the report of summer heat at Fort I spirited: they erect a spacious building Yukon; and for the month of July the for public purposes in every village, and ‘-they are passionately fond of the vapor mean was 651°, or equal to the sum mer heat of the north shore of Lake bath, and often use it three or four times a day.” “ They indicate time with accu Ontario. We have spoken of the nations who racy, and can distinguish stars and meet and trade on the Great River planets.” Baron Wrangell writes much Yukon : there are four of these, of whom in praise of the Ku.rkutr/wwak; but no we have some partial description. First, man has numbered or estimated them: there are certainly many thousands. the Kulc/'zz'n, the central resident nation Next are the 1nuz't--“ceux qui of the Yukon Valley, numbering a thou sand warriors at least, according to Mr. miaux/"* or Esquimaux, as they are Murray, a gentleman long residing at Fort generally called. They are the well Yukon as the agent of the Hudson’s known occupants of nearly all the Bay Company. Mr. Murray describes northern and eastern coasts, and they find their western limit where the nations them as -1 of the average height of Eu meet on the Yukon. The fourth nation ropeans. well formed, with regular fea is the Ti/rm‘, or Chepewyans, coming tures, high foreheads and light complex ions. The wife of one of the chiefs was from the interior on the south to the same great rendezvous. Of these Tinne so handsome that she would be con sidered a fine woman in any country. many bad traits are related; but one . . . The principal men of the Kutchin singular merit is universally accorded to possess two or three wives each,” and them-“the singular characteristic of Mr. Murray “ knew one old leader who strict honesty: no precautions for the had five. Poor men, whose abilities as safety of property are necessary when among them.77 They are not, we regret hunters were small, remained bachelors.” Enough of the Kutchin, personally, most to say, residents of Alaska: they only persons will exclaim, yet Mr. Murray visit certain portions of its borders an goes on to describe them as “a lively, ' nually to trade. We should also name the great na cheerful people, excelling in dancing, singing, and athletic exercises.” Their tion Tr/tuktc/ze, of Behring Strait, the islands of Behring’s Sea, and Asia on currency, or medium of exchange is well maintained, being exclusively of a variety the west. They are numerous and pow of beads brought from Italy. Neither erful: they occupy the Aleutian Islands, expansion nor contraction is complained and constitute an intelligent body of‘ traders from the Asiatic to the American of, and the only infringement they sub In Siberia they are nomads, mit to is to reckon their accounts at the coast. trading posts in “ beavers.” Allied to maintaining herds of reindeer, and trav the Kutchin proper are many smaller ' “ Ceux qui miaux," those who mew or shout in a nations of the southern coast: the peculiar tone, from the habit of these people to sur Kenaiyer, of Cook’s lnlet ; the Kolus/m.r, round a ship with their boats, and to shout or call in a who build wooden houses about Prince peculiar tone to trade with them.
