4.
THE WEST SHORE.
142
has been fiminl in use among various tribes of American
Indians, especially thoHB living among the dense native
forests, nnd it in cited by ethnologists ns one of the indi
cations of ii common ancestry for ninny of the aboriginal
tribes. In lux "Song of Hiawatha," Longfellow says:
Ami Ihi-y mi ii l I on t lit Knivi- itn
Of I In- irniviiN )it iinfiirtfiilti'ti,
Kuril Ii im own HiK'M'tra! tnli'iii,
Kih-Ii I Im nyiuliiil uf liin limiwhuM,
KiKUnw uf llii' lHiir imil n'inilii'r,
Of I In ttirlli. crntiiiHi.il lii'iivi'r.
The Sitka Indians, as do many others of the northern
tnlics, carve their household symliols, anil in this work
give evidi'iice of considerable artistic ability, the sculp
turing in many instances being very intricate and ex
tremely lifelike. The tribes are divided into families,
and each has its totem stick erected in front of the
house of tlie head of the family. The size of the stick
nnd amount of curving indicaU the wealth and import
ance of tlm Missessor. They vary from two to five feet
in thickness, and often are sixty feet high. Where fami
lies intermarry the symbols are Mended or independently
carved on the same stick, causing many curious combina
tions and intermingling of devices. The most common
Hollies are the clinic, raven, alligator nnd lish; there nre
mIso heads of men, birds and beasts of all descriptions, iib
well as many cabalistic Hymlxils, which nre nppnrently
arbitrary in their significance. These works of nrt nre
produced at great exicnse, often costing from $1,000 to
12.0(H). A chief who lias asserted his imjxirtimce by
procuring one of these wooden coats-of-nrum, usually
celebrates the occasion by giving n "potlatcli," n word of
tin "Chin.K.k jargon," signifying the promiscuous dis
tribution of giftK. On such occasions blankets, arms nnd
valuables of all kinds nre lcstwcd uimn the assembled
multitude with h lavish hand, the donor not infrequently
inioverishing himself by his IwVrality.
Hitkn, the capital of Alaska if such h Win mny be
npi.li.sl to a region which has no civil government-is
the oldest settlement on the Pacific (W north of Cnli
fonim, will, the exception of n few stations established
by Itiissian nr trmlers a. g the Aleutian Islands nnd
t r.nc,M,lha,.,'s Sound. The lhissian-Americnn
J rading Ump(illy was in full passion of Alaska in
7... when HaranofT bu.lt frt UaranofT, or Sitkn,
Inland, nnd named ,t Port Archangel Oabriel - I 180:
the fort was captunsl by the Indians and the garr so,
re, ; but the next year IWanoff rebuilt" n
'"'"..si t New Archangel." U Wimw of i 1
"no m h shiplmilding ..int, where the com, Lv
llMUtlt IV
y-nnm U) AOW r..lni.,....l ..i .... . . "
-m.nh, n.l in 1SI1 n iwW;,J lny'
m t.,,,.r. J; ',"n"H
time. These were all discontinued after the American
occupation; but the Presbyterians soon founded one, as
did other denoini nations subsequently.
Sitka was quite a thriving town under the Russian
rule; but having lost its importance with the departure
of the company whose hettdquurlera it was, and having
lost much of its trade and population by reason of the
mining camps of Harrisburg and Takou, it shows unmis
takable signs of decay in its many empty houses, fast
assuming a dilapidated and consequently " artistic " and
" interesting " appearance. The most conspicuous struc
ture is the Greek church, built in the form of a Greek
cross, with emerald-green dome in the center, and a
cupola-surmounted bell tower. The chapel occupies one
wing of the edifice, and in its appointments is very mag
nificent. It contains a curious font and an exquisite
painting of " The Virgin and Child," copied from the
celebrated one at Moscow. The drapery of the figure is
of silver, and the halo surrounding the head of gold,
leaving nothing of the original painting to meet the eye
but the faces and background. The effect is peculiar and
striking. The ornaments, great candlestick and candela
bra are of solid silver. The chancel is raised and in
reached by three broad steps, leadinsr to four doors. twr
of which are carved and gilded and ornamented with bas-
reliefs. Above hangs a painting of " The Last Supper,"
nnd another on either side of the altar. - These are
covered with silver like that of the Madonna, No woman
may cross the threshold of these doors, but thev gen
erally stand ajnr, and the courteous priest in attendance
willingly shows to visitors the gorgeous vestments and
the bishop's crown, heavy with bearls and amethvsts.
The fittings of the church were presented to it by the
Jiiinpress Uatherine many years ago. ''
Ilivalmg the church in interest to the visitor is the
old castle on the hill, once the home of the Russian gov
ernor, who ruled with almost desrjotic nower. but now.
alas, converted into a United States signal station. Once
destroyed by nre and once prostrated by an earthquake,
it was each time rebuilt Siena of dilnnidntinn are
observable, but its massive walls will probably stand for
generations. The desolation of its armearRTice lends an
ndded charm to the legends which hang about it One
iu uiese traditions is to the effect that Baron Romanoff,
when occupying the castle na imvpmnr Imd in his
household a niece, an orphan whose guardian he was, a
mosi oenutitul young lady, as all traditionary maidens
nre or should be. She had bestowed br Affections unon
a young lieutennnt, and when the Baron commanded her
to wed a powerful nrineo. than aW. no a miesfc at
- i 1 - - o
me castle, she refused The Romanoff, concealinc his
displeasure under a cloak nf nrUm'w owa fV.A nlwtrnnt.
mg houtenant an hnnnmWa
(111 VI UUV& UIOJ'" kvm
, in uPn an expedition to some distance. During the
nosence of the lover the maiden yielded to the threats and
demands of her stern moU nn,1 th. ,0i,i; .A,rnt.inn8
were hastily made. The timid and heart-broken girl and
the prince stood up before the priest, who solemnized the
torced. union, the marriage bells rang out their mock