(Pl. 1, _b_)
Arrive midday. Quite a village, as usual along the water front on a
high bank. Large fancy modern surface burial ground with brightly
painted boxes and flying flags on a hill to the right. Met by local
marshal and doctor; my things are taken to a little hospital. Natives
here have poor reputation, but now said to be better. Boys nearly all
mix bloods. Several men and women show Eskimo type, but majority
are Indian to somewhat Eskimoid. Soon find they are not very well
disposed--want pay for everything, and much pay. Have a few specimens,
but to obtain anything from them is difficult. Have been spoiled.
A visit with the marshal to the site of old Nulato on the proximate
point; nothing there, just a rabbit's skull and a lot of mosquitoes.
Photograph old graveyard (that of old Nulato), on the distal point
beyond the creek.
Mr. Steinhauser, trader, of Czech descent, helpful and kind. But
nothing further to do here. Steamer that was to be here to-night
or to-morrow will not arrive, just learned, until Tuesday (this is
Friday); and so must engage a little gasoline boat to the next station,
Kaltag, 40 miles down the river.
Sleep under my new netting in the hospital. In the morning, after
parting with doctor and marshal, start 8.30 a. m. Boat little, shaky,
run by a half-breed boy of about 18. My old scow with Peake and his
companion will stay a day longer. Partly cloudy, warm.
Pass flats, and come again to similar shaved-off bluffs like yesterday.
We are now running close to the shore so that I can see everything.
Flowers, but not many or many varieties.
9.50 a. m. Pass (about 8 miles from Nulato) a few burials (old boxes)
on right slope. (Pl. 1, _c_.) Indian camp about one-half mile farther,
and a few old abandoned huts and caches.
Everything on and along the river about the same as yesterday, except
in little details. Sky clouded; light clouds, however. The boy with me
has had good schooling (for a native) and is a good informer. But there
is little of archeological or anthropological interest hereabouts. (Pl.
2, _a_.)
12.10 p. m. Another rounded island ahead of us; far beyond it
grayish-blue hills and mountains. Six miles more to Kaltag. But little
life here--a few small birds, a lone robin, a lone gull.