Chilkahtknan. Number about 1500 in the village of Chilkaht and Iselkort Rivers and head of Lyn Channel; they are fierce and warlike, often at war with the southern Indians; make annual trading voyages, carrying peltries obtained from interior Indians as far south as Victoria, Vancouver Island, receiving in exchange blankets, powder, ball, hardware, and molasses and sugar.
Sitkakneen. Number about 1200 or 1500, and inhabit the shore of Cross Sound, Checkayoff, Kruyoff, and Buranoff Islands. Their principal village is Sitka, Buranoff Island. They are called Kolases by Russians, whom it took many years to subdue to a sufficient extent to make a foothold in their country. They frequently fought the intruders, and as late as 1855 perpetrated a bloody massacre, killing a whole congregation who were worshiping in a church. Before the advent of the Russians they were often at war with their neighbors, and before being subject to an epidemic of smallpox and a massacre by the Stickeens were much more numerous. The Russians employ large numbers of them at ship-building. They are industrious and have much mechanical skill in working both wood and metals. Large numbers of them have been baptized into the Greek Church, but Christianity never made much impression upon them.
Kootznonknan. Numbering about 300; inhabit Admiralty Island, their principal village being at Hood’s Bay. They resemble the Sitkas, with whom they intermarry. They were the first to distill a kind of liquor from molasses or sugar and potatoes or beans, which is now a universal custom in Alaska, and is demoralizing the native population to a great extent.
Jahkuknan. Numbering about 250 in the basin of the Jashku River and shore of Stephen’s Pass; resemble the Sitkas.
Kakenan. Number about 200; inhabit Kow and several other islands in Stephen’s Pass; warlike and treacherous. They are the only Alaska Indians with whom the United States has had hostilities. Gen. J. C. Davis destroyed their principal village in 1858, since which time they have declined in power and importance.
Tongasknan. 200 in number; inhabit Tongas Island.
Stakhinknan. Number 1000; inhabit the mouth of Stahkin River and neighboring islands; principal village at Wrangle Island; resemble the Sitkas closely; warlike and treacherous; skillful workers in metals and wood.
Kygahn. Called Haidas by Hudson Bay people; numbering in Alaska about 500 and in Prince of Wales Archipelago; are of fine stature, and fierce and warlike as well as treacherous; ingenious carvers in metal and wood; they formerly carried on a trade in slaves with more northern Indians, making for the purpose of capturing them predatory incursions as far south as Vancouver Island and Puget Sound. They also manufacture and supply yellow-cedar canoes of immense size to northern Indians.
Indications, Military. See [Military Indications].
Indicator. An invention of Gen. Wingate, of the New York Militia, for instructing men in aiming the musket. A steel rod passing through a brass tompon in the muzzle is projected forwards by the firing-pin. The rod carries a sharp point in the line of the sights, which punctures a miniature target a foot or so in front of the muzzle.