INDIANS OF THE (.UnN/VTELT ADRNCV 



269 



ferred by the men. I Ikivo .seen iiii old woman, tlu^ lol)e of wliose ear was 

 cut into live or six deep scallops, where lier ear-rings had been torn out 

 during quarrels with others of her sex. When she drew down the cartil- 

 age of her nose to insert its ring she was a grotesque-looking object. The 

 skirt of cedar bark Avas formerly 

 the only garment reaching from 

 the waist that was worn by In- 

 dian women. The stri[)S of bark 

 were laid over a rude frame set iu 

 the ground, consisting of a thin, 

 flat piece of wood about 2 feet 

 long set edgewise into a support 

 at each end made of two sticks 

 tied together. Tiie bark was 

 then bent over the frame ami 

 creased and bruised b}- the in- 

 strument nmde from the skull of 

 the whale. The bark was then 

 made still softer and more pliable 

 by rubbing with the hands. 



Many \'arieties of salmon taken 

 from the ( Juinaielt lliver tbrm the 

 ))rincipal tV)od ofthistribe. When 

 fresh it is eaten boiled, or roasted 

 by fastening to a stick set hrmly 

 in the ground and slanting to- 

 wards tlui lire. The Indians also dry and salt their salmon. Salmon 

 eggs, from the large '"Steel head" are taken from the tish and packed 

 without salt or cleansing in boxes or barrels until the latter are lilled. 

 They are then left to ferment and swell, in ma,n.\ cases buisting the ])ack- 

 ages. The eggs become indescribably putrid and at last solidify, so 

 that they nmy be cut like cheese. They are thus considered deliciously 

 "ripe" and lit for food. 



Their ancient dishes were made of yew and their si)oons of horn. 

 Ibilfalo-skull dishes, with large handles, canu' originally from the 

 headwaters of the Colnnd)ia Ki\'er. The Atona or Chinook Indians, 

 wishing to procure slaves, invaded ;i village of the Cohnnbia, Ki\«u' In- 

 dians and destroyed altout half their houses. Those of the Colund>ia 

 liiver Indians who were not killed ran away and hid in the forests, ex- 

 cept a wonuin and child, who were (;a])tured and carried away. The 

 Skokomish Indians took away with them also many ai-ticles of house 

 hold furniture, inclmling dishes made, of the skulls of buffaloes. Tiiesci 

 wei'C bought froai the Chinooks by the (^)ninaielt- Indians, w iio ])aid for 

 them witli canoes and blankets. Tlie dishes ai'o said to be very old, 

 and oulv to be found among the descendants of the chiefs. These heir- 



Fii:. 2. Cedar haik cincture, and api)arat.iis tor 

 making. 



