THE ORPHANAGE NEWS LETTER.
Religious Beliefs of the Native
People of Southwestern Alaska.
By N. W. Pavi.off.
Before the close of the eighteenth
century the people of soulhweatei u
Alaska were like any other i borigin
es. They strongly believed in witch
craft and superstition, and ‘'Sha
man1' or medicine man was the chief
personality amongst them. He at
tended to all their netds and wishes,
by the gency of fire as is the principal
factor with most of the primatives iu
worship. They also worshiped the
sun; and though they used charms,
they never made or bad any idols.
They are a very superstitious pcup.e
even at the present day; to pe.suade
tnein to the contrary would be a vaiu
effort. For instence; they believe in
the existence of a small people about
six inches high with loud, strong,
bass voices like big men. They are
supposed to travel, two ortbuee to
gether in a skin canoe, called a “oi
darka”. I f a person is so fortunate
as to see them coming towards the
shore, he must not scare or disturb
them or try to catch them, as it will
be sudden death or great misfortune.
II is useless to try to catch them as
they will dive into the sea and vanish.
He must wait and quietly watch
them, and if they leave semethieg
on the beach by chance or purposly
and go away, he must run quickyl
and get possession of it, treasure and
keep it in a safe place and he can
consider himself a very lucky man all
bis lile.
{To be continued)
Miss Mylroi, of Kodiak spent the
week end May Iith to at the
mission.
The elephone between the Winch •
Dormitory and the mission has been
out of commission for severs’ years.
It is now in good working order a id
is a great convenience.
As there is now a school at Knit,
George Palmer has thought it best to
have his children, Ann and Bud,
come heme to live. They went on
the April Dora.
We hope they will he very happy
and useful in their home.
Mary also had the opportunity of
going but she has decided to rematu
in the mission. We are hoping she
will be «fcc°ud Ofdotia.
Mr. Sundberg, who ,has been our
cook tor wore tha a year and a half
decided that he must find work where
he could get more pay than we were
able to give him, so he left u» the
middle of April, and went to Valdez
in search of work. A few days after
he left we eecured the services of
Charle; Nekembra, who for so many
years has cooked for the mission.
His own delight in being back again
in the mission kitchen was equaled
only by that of the children in having
him back.
WEATHER REPORT
APRIL
Maximum temperature 45.
Minimum ” 5.
Mean maximum ” 37-0
Mean minimum ” >3-93
Mean ” 3°-99
Precipitation, inches, 7.4
Snow fall, 34-5
Number of days, clear 1, partly
cloudy 21, cloudy 8, rain or snow 16
M. D. Snodgrass, Vol. Obatrver.