240 A STRANGE BELIEF. 



supposed that the worthless ceased to exist at 

 death. 



They believed, along with the Nesquallies, 

 Yakimas, and as far as I know all the tribes, 

 that beasts,, fishes, and, at least, the edible roots 

 of the vegetable kingdom, were once human 

 beings. The Flathead tradition is that the son 

 of the Sun came to the earth and compelled all 

 these humans to swim across a lake of oil, on 

 emerging from which they assumed their present 

 forms, a reason being given for the particular 

 shape and peculiarities of each. Bear, beaver, 

 goose, &c. ; for instance, the bear crossed by div- 

 ing, and is therefore fat ; the goose did not dive, 

 and consequently has only fat on the neck and 

 behind. 



Q. Can the origin of their dogs be traced 



< tj 



whence came the parent stock ? 



A. (Tolmie.)-Witli the Flatheads and Chini- 

 syans, the tradition is that the son of the Sun was 

 accompanied by a dog, when he came upon the 

 earth. The latter do not say that the metamor- 

 phosis of humans into beasts was caused by 

 the son of the Sun. 



Q. Are the chiefs, whether of limited or ab- 

 solute power, elective or hereditary? 



A. (Anderson.) Hereditary rank goes a great 



