hardships and triumphs many tales could be told if time and space permitted. Without the help of a sawmill and other facilities; with the aid only of an ax and his energy, he has built the station. Often has he experienced the greatest perils, even coming near risking his life for the gun or knife of the native, or at sea during stormy seasons while crossing the bay in order to provide his station with the necessaries of life from St. Michael or inland, in his many missionary journeys among the tribes living between Unalaklik and Golovin Bay. But he has until now been protected; and the last six years he has been nobly assisted by Mr. David Johnson, a young man of great courage and self-denying zeal. This Mr. Johnson has during the last two years made several missionary journeys farther north as far as Kotzebue Sound, in company with the Eskimo Evangelist Rock. Many were the perils and the hardships of the young missionaries upon these journeys. The whole of Christmas night, 1895, they were obliged to bivouac in the cold arctic region beneath the starry sky, without any other protection than their sleighs offered. And still this young man, with an apostle's heart, asks of the society the privilege to be allowed to work in the same manner among the tribes farthest in the north, even offering himself to go without salary and eating the fare of the natives for a time, if only the society would consent to open a new station at the Kotzebue Sound.

The congregation of converted natives numbers about 50. At present not more than 15 children are wholly cared for at the station.

The children enrolled at the mission school are reported to be 90, of whom 50 are under 10 years of age, 20 under 15, the rest under 30 years of age. The best attendance is reported during March, with an average of 40, the next best in January and February, with 35, and October, November, December, with 25. During May only 15 attended, and in September fewer still (no exact figure given). These changes in the number of pupils is to be explained from the native half-nomadic mode of living. In the Sunday school at Unalaklik 175 children at the most have been gathered; and great was the joyful surprise for the poor little ones of the Christmas feast given them last Christmas eve, with a Christmas tree, burning in all its glory, and many small presents in the way of clothing, sweetmeats, and other good things liberally bestowed upon half-clothed, half-starved boys and girls, who showed their appreciation by laughter and tears continually alternating the whole evening, the greatest evening of their life.

Golovin Bay is the youngest station, and was opened 1892, and Mr. N. O. Hultberg, the superintendent of the station, was sent forthwith to take up work at the new place. He is now aided by his wife and Mr. August Anderson, and will be further assisted from next summer by P. H. Anderson, the school-teacher.

The success at Golovin Bay, the first and especially the second winter, exceeded all their expectations and former experiences, the report numbering the baptized during the winter of 1894 alone as over 20. The congregation of converted natives is at present 30 in number.

The attendance at the mission school is 40, a number which could be easily doubled, as there are hundreds of children living a few miles around the station, were it not for the small schoolhouse, which can accommodate no more. A brief summary of their work in Alaska is as follows:

(1) They expend yearly between $8,000 and $10,000 in Alaska. And this expenditure may be better understood when it is stated that all the members of all the churches in connection with the covenant do not number more than 10,030, including both women and men, most of these being persons of small means. (2) As an immediate fruit of their missions there, is counted a Christian congregation of at least 100 natives.

(3) About 300 children are instructed at their mission schools.

(4) About 20 children are cared for at the mission stations.

(5) In connection with their missionary efforts, a great work of civilization is going on, not only at the stations, but through the influences of the missionaries.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

The diocese of Selkirk, while having its stations on the Canadian side of the boundary line, yet ministers to the natives and miners both of Canada and Alaska. The demoralization of the Indians, through intemperance and other vices introduced among them by the large influx of gold miners, is very marked, and has become a great hindrance to missionary work. Archdeacon and Mrs. T. H. Canhan, who have for many years labored in that arctic region, this season returned to England on account of their health.

The governor of Alaska, referring to the operations of the various Christian denominations in Alaska and also to the Government schools, stated in his annual

report to the Government that "the teacher and the missionary, the church and the school, have exerted a more potent influence for the elevation, civilization, and education of the Alaskan native than any and all other forces combined."

TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES IN CHURCH MISSION SCHOOLS.

Episcopalians.

Point Hope.-J. B. Driggs, M. D., Rev. H. E. Edson.

Anvik.-Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Chapman, Miss Bertha W. Sabine.

Fort Adams.-Rev. and Mrs. Jules L. Prevost, Mary V. Glenton, M. D.
Juneau.-Rev. Henry Beer.

Douglas Island.-Rev. A. J. Campbell.

Sitka.-Bishop Peter Trimble Rowe.

Congregational.

Cape Prince of Wales.-Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Lopp, Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Hanna.

Swedish Evangelical.

Kotzebue Sound.-Rev. David Johnson, and Rock, a native assistant.

Golovin Bay.-Rev. August Anderson, Rev. and Mrs. N. O. Hultberg, and Dora, a native assistant.

Unalaklik.-Rev. and Mrs. A. E. Karlson, Miss Malvina Johnson.

Kangekosook.-Stephan Ivanoff.
Koyuk.-Mr. Frank Kameroff.

Yakutat. Rev. and Mrs. Albin Johnsen, Rev. K. J. Hendricksen, Miss Selma Peterson, Miss Hulda C. Peterson.

Roman Catholic.

Kosyrevsky.-Rev. Paschal Tosi, S. J., prefect apostolic of Alaska; Rev. R. Crimont, S. J.; and Brothers Rosati, S. J.; Marchesio, S. J.; Cunningham, S. J.; Sisters M. Stephen, M. Joseph, M. Winfred, M. Anguilbert, M. Heloise, and M. Damascene.

Nulato.-Rev. A. Ragaru, S. J.; Rev. F. Monroe, S. J., and Brother Giordano, S. J. Shageluk.-Rev. William Judge, S. J.

Urhhamute, Kuskokwim River.-Rev. A. Robant, S. J.

St. Josephs, Yukon Delta.-Rev. J. Treca, S. J.; Rev. A. Parodi, S. J.; Rev. F. Barnum, S. J.; Brothers Twohigg, S. J., and Negro, S. J., and Sisters M. Zypherine, M. Benedict, M. Prudence, and M. Pauline.

Juneau.-Rev. J. B. Rene and Sisters Mary Zeno, M. Peter, and M. Bousecour.

Moravians.

Bethel. Rev. and Mrs. John H. Kilbuck, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Helmick, Miss Mary Mack, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Romig, M. D.

Quiegaluk.-Mr. Ivan Harrison (Eskimo).

Tulaksagamute.-Mr. and Mrs. David Skuviuk (Eskimos).

Kalchkachagamute.-Mr. and Mrs. George Nukachluk (Eskimos).

Akaigamiut.-Mr. Neck (Eskimo).

Ugavig.-Rev. and Mrs. Ernst L. Webber.

Quinehaha.-Mr. L. Kawagleg and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Suruka (Eskimos). Čarmel.-Rev. and Mrs. John Schoechert, Rev. S. H. Rock, Misses Mary and Emma Huber, Miss P. C. King.

Methodist Episcopal.

Unalaska.-Miss Agnes S. Sowle, Miss Sarah J. Rinch.

Friends.

Douglas City.-Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Reploge. (No report.)
Kake.-Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Moon. (No report.)

Baptists.

Wood Island.-Rev. and Mrs. Curtis P. Coe, Miss Lulu Goodchild, and Miss Hattie Snow.

Presbyterian.

Point Barrow.-L. M. Stevenson.

St. Lawrence Island.-Mr. and Mrs. V. C. Gambell.

Haines.-Rev. and Mrs. W. W. Warne, Miss Anna M. Sheets, Miss Fannie H. Willard (native).

Hoonah.-Rev. and Mrs. Alvin C. Austin, Mrs. John W. McFarland, and Mrs. Mary E. Howell.

Juneau.-Rev. and Mrs. James H. Condit, Rev. and Mrs. L. F. Jones, Miss Sue Davis, Miss M. E. Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Moore (natives).

Sitka.-Rev. and Mrs. Alonzo E. Austin, Mr. and Mrs. U. P. Shull, Dr. B. K. Wilbur, Mrs. E. C. Heizer, Mrs. M. A. Saxman, Mrs. A. Carter, Mrs. L. S. Wallace, Miss A. J. Manning, Mrs. T. K. Paul (native), Mr. P. Solberg.

Fort Wrangel.-Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Thwing.

Jackson.-Rev. and Mrs. J. Loomis Gould, Mrs. A. R. McFarland.

Church of England.

Buxton.-Bishop_and Mrs. Bompas, Rev. Frederick F. Flewelling, Miss MacDonald, Mr. R. J. Bowen.

Fort Selkirk.-Rev. and Mrs. B. Totty.

Rampart House.-Rev. and Mrs. H. A. Naylor, Rev. and Mrs. T. H. Canham.

INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA.

During the year a comfortable log schoolhouse 22 by 32 feet, together with a woodhouse and bell tower for the same, has been erected for the use of the children of the employees at the Teller Reindeer station. The building has attracted considerable attention from its neat and comfortable appearance. The main headquarters building was enlarged with an addition 24 by 40 feet, built in connection with it. This addition gives accommodation for a storeroom, and also for the herders' families who may be sojourning temporarily at the station. It furnishes accommodations for keeping seal meat, oil, blubber, dried and frozen fish; also a carpenter's bench, with facilities for manufacturing sleds and snowshoes. In the attic is furnished much needed room for storing sails, boat oars, and fishing nets. In addition to the buildings erected at the station, huts made of plank and driftwood, covered with sod and dirt, were erected at several convenient points for the accommodation of the herders passing between the herd and the main station in winter. During the severe storms of last winter these huts were found of very great value, and probably in some instances saved lives. Similar huts were also erected at the winter camp for the use of the herders.

PERSONNEL.

After a sea voyage of thirty-seven days, Mr. J. C. Widstead, who had been appointed assistant superintendent of the station, reached Port Clarence July 12 on the brig W. H. Meyer. Two days later, the supplies for the station being safely landed, a southerly wind springing up so increased in violence that the vessel was driven ashore from her anchorage and became a total wreck. With the wrecking of the vessel were lost the supplies of the schools at Bering Straits and also Point Barrow, together with the personal effects of the Rev. Thomas Hauna and family, who were en route to their station at Cape Prince of Wales.

Owing to some misunderstanding and friction which arose over the sale of the wrecked vessel, Mr. William A. Kjellmann sent his resignation to Mr. William Hamilton, who represented the Bureau. As there was nothing else to be done, the resignation was accepted, and on July 20 Mr. J. C. Widstead was appointed superintendent, with Mr. Thorwald Kjellmann as assistant superintendent. Mr. Widstead had been selected for a subordinate position, but in the absence of any other more suitable person in that region he was necessarily given the first place upon the resignation of Mr. Kjellmann. His administration during the past year was not a success, and upon my arrival at the station, July 28, 1896, I removed him and reappointed Mr. William A. Kjellmann superintendent and Albert N. Kittilsen, M. D., assistant superintendent, who had been sent up from the States this season for service at the station.

During last year some dissatisfaction was expressed by the Lapps that there was no physician within reach for their families. This want has been supplied by the appointment of Dr. Kittilsen as assistant superintendent of the station. The seven families of Lapps have remained with the herd, performing their usual duties

with efficiency and success. The experience of the past two years has demonstrated the wisdom of their importation as instructors to the Eskimos in the care and management of deer. Their success has been so marked that hereafter, whenever a herd is loaned to a mission station, an experienced Lapp will be sent with the herd to take charge of and instruct the apprentices.

Under the tuition and direction of the experienced and skilled Lapps were ten Eskimo apprentices from different villages extending all the way from Point Hope on the Arctic shore southward and eastward to Fort Adams on the Upper Yukon River, a distance of 2,000 miles. These apprentices have made fair progress in mastering the science of managing and breeding reindeer.

In January, Moses, Tatpan, Martin, and Okweetkoon were transferred from the Teller Reindeer Station to the new station established on Golovin Bay, they having come originally from that general region of country.

During the fall, Oozhaloo, one of the most prominent natives at Point Barrow, with his family, was transported to the Teller Reindeer Station at his own request and accepted as an apprentice. It is hoped that ultimately he will be able to go back in charge of a herd to that distant and desolate northern section.

HERDS.

There are now five herds in Alaska, one at Cape Prince of Wales, a mission station of the Congregational Church, numbering 253; one at Cape Nome, in charge of three experienced Eskimo apprentices, numbering 218; two at Golovin Bay, one belonging to the Swedish Evangelical Mission Station and the other to the St. James Episcopal Mission Station, together numbering 206, and the central Government herd at the Teller Reindeer Station, numbering 423, making a total of 1,100 head.

During the previous five years the transporting of reindeer from Siberia was done by the revenue cutter Bear. This year the Bear, having extra work in connection with the policing of the sea islands of Bering Sea, was unable to afford the usual assistance. In place of the Bear, arrangements were made with Mr. Minor W. Bruce to purchase the deer on the Siberian coast and deliver them to the Government at so much a head on the Alaska shore. Through a combination of circumstances, however, he failed to carry out this contract, and the result was that no deer were purchased this season. It is perhaps as well that this attempt to procure deer through private parties from Siberia has so signally failed, as the men who were selected to live in Siberia and do the purchasing were not such as were competent to suitably represent the United States Government. Russia had kindly given permission to the United States to purchase, but would naturally expect that the agents doing the work would be responsible men under the control of the United States Government. It is hoped that the Bureau of Education will this coming year be able to send its own agent on the field, and thus prevent any international complications arising from the misdoings or mistakes of agents not responsible to the Government. But while there was no increase of the herd from importation, there was a very gratifying increase by birth. Four hundred and sixteen fawns were born to the herds last spring, of which 357 lived.

At the Teller Station there were at the opening of the year 525 head. On the 14th of January, 1896, 130 of these were sent off to establish a new herd at Golovin Bay.

During the year 25 died from accidents received during transportation from Siberia. Upon the second trip of the Bear the steamer encountered a severe gale and the reindeer were thrown helplessly from side to side across the deck, resulting in dislocated joints and broken limbs and internal injuries, resulting in death. During the fall a hoof disease broke out in the herd, resulting in the death of 25. A portion of a diseased lung and liver was sealed up in alcohol, and has been sent to the Agricultural Department for diagnosis of the disease and a possible remedy. Ten male deer were killed during the year for food. One hundred and forty-one fawns were born, of which 10 died. Of the 423 deer at the station on the 1st of July, 1896, 15 are claimed by the apprentice Taootuk, 11 by Kummuk, 7 by Sekeoglook, 4 by Woksok, 4 by Electoona, and 3 by Ahlook, making 44 that are the private property of the apprentices. There are 7 head of female deer belonging to the Teller Station that are still in the herd at Cape Nome.

In the herd at Cape Prince of Wales there are 253 head, of which 84 are fawns born last spring. There are 5 herders or apprentices in charge of the herd. Some of the cows without fawns were milked, and the herd seemed to be prospering. The Cape Nome herd numbers 218, of which 43 were born last spring. During the spring 11 were killed in an avalanche as they were feeding at the base of a mountain.

The two herds at Golovin Bay aggregate 206, of which 80 were born last spring. Of this herd, the apprentice, Martin, claims 12 deer, Tatpan 7, Moses 21, and Okweetkoon 10, making 50 claimed by the herders as private property.

The trip made in driving the herd from Port Clarence to Golovin Bay was a successful and interesting one, a full account of which is given by Mr. G. T. Howard.

During the year at the Teller Station 22 deer were broken to harness, making 52 sled deer in the herd. Much time was given to the training of these deer for freighting and traveling purposes. Seventeen sets of harness were made, 14 freight sleds, and a number of snowshoes and skis. But little difficulty has been met with during the past year from the dogs.

DISTRIBUTION.

In the general plan of distribution it has been our purpose to supply the mission stations, partly in the order of their proximity to the central herd, that the new herds may be more conveniently supervised, and partly through the interest which the stations have manifested in sending their young men for training. Hence the first station to receive a loan from the Government was the Congregational, at Bering Straits, CO miles away from the central station. The superintendent of that mission was for one year (1893-94) superintendent of the reindeer station, and had around him a number of his young men as apprentices. About that time the report was maliciously circulated among the natives that they were not to receive any benefit from the reindeer; only the whites. To disabuse their minds, three of the more advanced of the native herders were loaned (January 31, 1895) 100 head of deer and sent off some 60 miles down the coast to Cape Nome by themselves. This was the beginning of the third herd.

Among the first stations to respond to the call for young men to learn the business was the Swedish station at Ünalaklik, Norton Sound, and the St. James Episcopal mission, on the Yukon. As the Swedish station was the next nearest to Port Clarence after the Congregationalists, and as they had had three young men in training, it was very proper that they should have the next or fourth herd, and while the Episcopal station at Fort Adams is more remote than the Roman Catholic station on the lower Yukon or the Presbyterian station on St. Lawrence Island, yet as that station had had an apprentice almost from the first in the herd and was a central point for the establishment of reindeer among a different race of people in Alaska, it seemed appropriate to give the fifth herd to them, which was done.

In arranging plans for the distribution of the domestic reindeer in Alaska, so far as the native population are concerned, I have looked to the missionaries settled among them for cooperation and assistance.

They are the wisest and most disinterested friends the natives have. From their position and work, having learned the character and needs of the people, they can wisely direct the transfer of the ownership of the deer from the Government to such of the natives as have been trained in the care of the deer.

And in order that the herders should have, in the infancy of the business, the continued oversight of experienced herders, and teaching in methods of handling by the most competent instructors, it is important that with every new herd sent out there shall also be sent a competent Lapp. In accordance with this purpose, the several missionary organizations at work in arctic and subarctic Alaska were last spring corresponded with by this office.

In the commencement of the work it was anticipated that all the mission stations would have ere this been furnished a loan of reindeer, but the increase through purchase in Siberia has been much smaller than was anticipated. Instead of being able to purchase a thousand or more head a year, the average increase by purchase has only been about 150 a year. This necessarily delays the distribution of deer, as it is not good policy to weaken unduly the central herd at Port Clarence, and of course we can not distribute more than we have.

It is as important to teach the natives just emerging from barbarism how to earn an independent support as it is to give them book instruction. The industrial pursuit which nature has mapped out for the native population of arctic and subarctic Alaska is the breeding and herding of reindeer and the use of the deer as a means of transportation and intercommunication.

During the past season the influx of miners into the Yukon region has made a very urgent call for reindeer for freighting purposes. In the original plan for the purchase and distribution of reindeer reference was mainly had to securing a new food supply for the famishing Eskimo, but it is now found that the reindeer are as essential to the white men as to the Eskimo. The wonderful placer mines of