unsuccessful, or if pressed too hard, the network of underground passages afforded means for convenient retreat and concealment; and in any event they were havens of safety for the much sought after women of the tribe.

With the decay of the war spirit declined also the authority of the chiefs and the few governmental forms which existed. While the office of chief is still hereditary and is held in high respect, and while the chief's advice may be sought and followed in matters of difficulty to the natives, his authority is now little more than persuasive. So-look is the present chief of the Kowak tribe, and is about sixty years old. His son, Sonoko, about twenty-five years of age, tall and well proportioned, is the coming chief. Both Solook and his son are intelligent, and are honored and revered by the members of the tribe.

But the most important members of these tribes, especially in times of misfortune, are the Ung-unkooks, or priest-physicians. In their character and functions they are something like the medicine-men of the better-known Indians west of the Mississippi, although probably not related in origin. Whatever conception they have of religious duties and obligations seems to be a sort of spirit-worship connected with magic arts, like the Shamanism of the tribes of Northern Asia. Shamanism among these tribes is a system of priestly imposture. In some parts of Siberia the priests pretend to know the secret of controlling the coming and departing spirits, to whose presence or ill will are ascribeed by most primitive peoples the misfortunes of sickness, death and other ills. In treating his patient the priest, it is related, will suck the part of the body which aches the most, and finally taking out of his mouth a thorn, a bug, a

stone or some other object, will exhibit it as the cause of the complaint. Something akin to this is practiced among the Alaskan natives, if not in this particular manifestation, in their general credulous and superstitious regard for the whims and pretensions of their Ungunkooks, they are alike. Some of them are very skeptical, especially those who are more intelligent and have had some intercourse with the white man. But the influence of the priest is generally paramount in all matters of conduct and in the observance of what he enjoins as a religious or prudential duty.

Very few of the natives will consent, for instance, to be photographed, because the Ungunkooks have told them that anyone submitting to the dreaded camera will incur the ill will of the all-destroying spirit, and this means death to the offender. I remember the consternation of two native boys who were visiting me when I took down the camera to explain to them the different parts and the manner of operation. Had the death-spirit himself appeared in my cabin it would not have driven them from it more quickly or with more appearance of terror. It was hours before one of them, who in his flight had failed to get his hat, could be induced to return for it. Among the adults a request for a sitting is usually met with a firm refusal, even when they are most anxious to please, and the reason, if any is given, is invariably that the Ungunkook has told them that he who complies with the request will quickly

die.

Long time ago, so runs substantially the legend known to every native, a great man among them, an Ungunkook, revered and renowned for his good works in behalf of his people, and particularly for his skill in the interpretation of the desires, inclinations and requirements of the spirits, and his control over demons,

made a long journey to the north. He finally came to a deep and beautiful lake, whose crystal surface was rippling to a gentle breeze and sparkling in the sunlight. On one side of the lake inclined a high cliff, whose white steep face was toward the water. On the other three sides were forests of trees whose foliage was fresher and greener than any he ever saw before, and in their midst rose a tree much greater and higher than any of the rest, which was reserved for the sacred black crows, the watchful sentinels of the lake. The wind blowing through the branches of the trees made music sweeter than he had ever heard. The birds sang more

sweetly, the flowers bloomed more brilliantly than anywhere else in the world. Passing near the lake, through the skirting forest, he climbed the side of a big mountain, and on the summit turned and gazed upon the wonderful, peaceful, beautiful place below. He saw a reindeer feeding on the margin of the lake. A child was running toward the reindeer through the grass, and farther away a woman was coming slowly after the child. Then he saw a strange and fearful thing! What was apparently a giant fish rose out of the water of the lake, and rushing upon the reindeer and the child carried them both back with it into the water. When the woman saw her child and reindeer, for they both belonged to her, snatched away by the monster fish,

she rushed to the lake and was about to leap into the water to the rescue when the giant fish disappeared with its victims. Knowing they had perished, the woman's despair soon turned to rage and fury. With a cry of vengeance she hastened up the side of the cliff. There she made a great fire and brought large stones, which, when heated, she rolled down into the lake. She heated and rolled so many that the water was made hot and boiled. A great number of fish came to the surface dead, and all the fish in the lake were killed, except the one which had taken her child and reindeer. But neither fire nor heated water could kill this spirit fish. Then the spirit fish, aroused by the vigilant crows which flapped their black wings and made a hideous noise, was enraged at what the woman had done, and caused the waters of the lake to be lashed into a great fury. The angry waters ascending the cliff, caught the woman and dragged her down into their heated depths. Thus the fate of the woman was worse even than that of her child and reindeer. So the good Ungunkook returned to his home and solemnly enjoined his people: "No Kowak must ever go to this lake, or he will perish for what the woman did."

And although the supposed location of the marvelous lake is perfectly well known, no Kowak has ever sought to visit it since the Ungunkook issued his orders.

Another invention of the Ungunkooks for the support of their influence by ascribing to their functions a supernatural origin, and which has taken the form of tradition or legend, is faintly suggestive of the famous Tree of Igdrasil of Norse mythology:

"That mythical tree, known to Icelandic story,
The type of creation; from its broad branches hoary

It drops down to mortals the strength giving mead;
And when they've received it, still fain would they linger.
But the tree's spirit points with significant finger

To the world and its labors, to the world and its need."

One time a wise man of his tribe traveled far away to where even in summer time the snow loves to linger. He drove his dogs for many sleeps, till weary and exhausted they stopped. So having fed them he wrapped his furs about him and lay down in the snow. In his slumber a spirit came, for these wise men never dream, and pointing out his course when his team should be rested, told him it would lead to hidden knowledge. When his dogs regained strength, he hastened forward as directed. Before him in the distance he saw what he took to be an area of placid green water, but on coming nearer found it was a great circular space where grass was growing, while snow was all about it. In the center was a vast tree whose branches and bright foliage swayed in a breeze of its own. There he saw ravens sitting in the branches solemnly regarding his approach. And long before he reached the grassy sward the dogs lay down terror-stricken. He being impelled to step within the circle, was drawn toward the tree and was kept within its influence for three sleeps. It was forbidden him to disclose all of what he learned. But of the mysteries of the magic circle he was permitted to tell his people, that he had been in the abode of the life and wisdom giving spirits; had learned the secret of disease, suffering and death; had been given the power to influence and control the spirits that induced them; had been directed to go back to his people, assume the title of Ungunkook, be to them the priestphysician, which the name implied, and use his newly given knowledge and power for their good; but only to him whom he should deem worthy to succeed him should he disclose the mighty mysteries of the Sacred Tree.

In all their traditions purporting to give an account of the origin of their superstitions, puerile as we may