Sitkakneen

Number about 1200 or 1500, and inhabit the shore of Cro Sound, Checkayoff, Kruyoff, and Buran off Islands. Their principal village is Sitka, Buran off Island. They are called Kolases by Ru ians, 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 ma acre, killing a whole congregation who were worshiping in a church. Before the advent of the Ru ians they were often at war with their neighbors, and before being subject to an epidemic of smallpox and a ma acre by the Stickeens were much more numerous. The Ru ians 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 impre ion upon them.