LODGES AND CANOES. 253 



This elastic back to the wood acts as would an 

 india-rubber band ; the bow when bent takes an 

 arrow about a yard in length, which it propels 

 with a force equal, for a short range, to that of 

 a rifle bullet. When an Indian shoots, five or six 

 arrows are held in the left hand, and as the string, 

 which is made of tendon, is hauled back, the right 

 hand brings with it an arrow ; this one fired, 

 another arrow is seized, and as rapidly as one 

 could reasonably count, the six arrows held in the 

 lei't hand are discharged. Had I my choice of 

 weapons I should much rather encounter a savage 

 armed with a trade gun than with a bow and 

 arrows. Spare arrows are carried in a quiver 

 made from the skin of their medicine animal, 

 or ' Tamanowash.' 



Flint heads for the arrows were once exclu- 

 sively used, but since the Indians have acquired 

 a knowledge of iron they employ it in preference 

 to stone. But the trade gun has now in a great 

 measure superseded the use of the bow and 

 arrows. 



Their lodges and canoes differ very much. 

 The coast tribes live generally during winter in 

 large sheds made of plank ; three or four sheds 

 often contain a whole colony, and constitute an 

 Indian village. These sheds are before des- 



