These people bear a resemblance to the Japanese. They have Japanese words in their language; they sit always at their work and cut towards them in using tools, which are much like those in use by the Japanese to-day. They have also many modern Apache words in their speech, while their picture writing is similar and in many cases the same as that of the Zunis.
Their own legend of their origin runs in this wise: During a great flood when every living thing on the earth perished, a few people floated to the tops of the mountains in canoes, which they anchored with heavy stones. The water rose so high, however, that they at last were drowned.
The only living thing to survive the flood was a raven. When the waters had subsided he flew down to the coast, where the waves dashing on the rocks sent forth a noise as of thunder. Presently he heard the cry of babies; directly a huge shell came rolling in on the sandy beach. The raven opened it and out came a strange people. In thankfulness for their deliverance they have made the raven their clan totem.
These people make baskets and mats to-day exactly like those made by the natives of the Islands of Polynesia, while their carving, in which they excel all other tribes of the North, resembles the sculpture of ancient Egypt.
Totem poles originated with these people and spread from them to other tribes with whom they came in contact. They practiced cremation and their death totem poles are always hollow, making a receptacle for the ashes of the dead.
The earliest explorers found these people living in houses built of heavy, hewn logs, and planks hewn out and neatly mortised. The houses were covered with a hip roof, supported by heavy rafters and thatched with an odd sort of shingle, clipped or hewn out of the logs. On the plank floors were mats made from a rush which grows on the islands.
The old Hydahs were a warlike people, who were ever waging battle with the fierce Chilkats.
ENTERING WRANGEL NARROWS.