638 ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS. 



first at the potlatcb. Some of them made a fire of pitch wood and cedar 

 on a board, then putting their canoes on blocks, about a foot high, they 

 placed the fire underneath, moving it along the whole length of the 

 canoei?, so as to burn off the moss and other material which might have 

 accumulated on the outside of them, but not leaving the fire long enough 

 in one place to burn the canoe. They do this to make the canoe run 

 more easily. On Friday morning the messenger came to me at 7 

 o'clock, saying they were about to start. I hurriedly ate a part of my 

 breakfast, and taking the remainder in my hand I started to their ca- 

 noes. Four of them had gone, but the one in which I was travelling had 

 not even been loaded. This it took them fifteen minutes to do. Then 

 it was said one of the company was sick, so they stopped to tamanous 

 over him, and it was half past 8 before we started. One more canoe, 

 with ten i)ersons, was here added to our company. The wind blew favor- 

 ably and strongly, as much so as our crafts would bear. There was a 

 fellow-feeling among all, for no single canoe of either set of four was 

 allowed to be far away from the rest, for fear of some accident. If one 

 could not keep up, the rest waited for it. 



In eight hours we travelled about 35 miles, and arrived at some Indian 

 houses, where all camped within 3 miles of Port Townsend. It had 

 rained most of the day. We did not stop for dinner, but all ate a 

 little dry lunch at noon. At morning and night they had warm meals. 

 The next morning they had a short tamanous to obtain fair wind and 

 weather. It consisted of singing, jjounding on the drum, and on sticks. 

 About 8 o'clock we started and reached Port Townsend in about an 

 hour. Here they spent nearly two hours in purchasing things to pre- 

 sent to the principal men at the potlatch, and the day being pleasant 

 we went on, having a race in which nearly all the canoes took part. 

 As there was little wind it was a trial of strength and endurance, and 

 was engaged in for mere sport. It was kept up for 2 or 3 miles, until 

 one canoe had passed all the rest and the losers were satisfied that it 

 was useless to contest further. At about half past 5 we reached our des- 

 tination, having made the entire trip in twenty-two traveling hours. 



We set out on our return to Skokomish on the 11th of February at 

 11 o'clock. Tbey intended to travel only (» miles, camp at Sequim and 

 visit these Indians, but the wind and weather })roving favorable, they 

 passed Sequim Bay without going into it, and encamped within 5 miles 

 of Port Townsend. They would have gone farther, but the wind was 

 blowing so strongly they were afraid to round Point Wilson, which is a 

 dangerous place when the sea is rough. Here they cami)ed out, away 

 from houses, for the first time on the trip. This they often do in summer, 

 but not so in winter if the women and children are along. It was a 

 calm night, and they did not make much preparation for camping. 

 Some hlept in their canoes, but most of them lay on the ground, and 

 some fixed up their sails and mats so as to shelter themselves from the 

 wind. 



