SHUSWAP PEOPLE OP BRITISH COLUMBIA. - 19 



Columbia, was obtained by them in the form of rounded masses from the gravel banks 

 and bars of the Fraser and Thompson. Thence it was doubtless carried in trade as far at 

 least as the territory of the Shiiswap people extended, though always most abundant in 

 the vicinity of the rivers of its origin. Good specimens of jade adzes have been found 

 at Little Shuswap Lake and at Kamloops. 



In the paper above referred to, it was stated that the jade had been cut into flat pieces 

 and these subsequently trimmed by sawing with a thong or thin piece of wood in con- 

 junction with sharp sand. Subsequent and more extended enquiry, however, shows that 

 the Indians employed for this purpose crystals of quartz, or fragments of such crystals. 

 This depends on the statements of living Indians, but is borne out by the occurrence of 

 such crystals with worn edges in association with cut fragments of jade at Lytton. 



The pestle-shaped hammer so common along the coast, is found also all along the Fraser 

 and Thompson rivers within the country of the Shuswaps. A specimen of the same 

 form has been presented to the museum of the Greological Survey by Mr. D. A. Stewart, 

 CE., which was obtained on that part of the Kootanie Eiver between the lake of the same 

 name and the Columbia. This carries the pestle-shaped hammer to the extreme eastern 

 limit of the Shviswap people. 



I am not aware that any specimens of the large stone mortars of the coast, have ever 

 been in the possession of the Shuswaps or have been found in their country. 



The measures of length employed by the Shuswap Indians are as follows : — 



Ko-poop, the fathom. Extremities of the arms extended. 



Kit-si-talis, the half fathom. Extremity of the arm to the breast. 



Ma'-sukst, four fingers, i.e., the width across the knuckles when the hand grasps a 



stick or other similar object. 

 En-ka-teh-skwaht, the foot-length. Measured on the ground by placing the heel of one 



foot to the toe of the other. 

 Skw-tows', the half foot. Measured with closed hand, thumb extended, from the 



knuckle of the fourth iinger to the extremity of the thumb. 

 , the span. Measured with the hand pressed out, front downward, from the 



end of the long finger to that of the thumb. The hand is so placed that the 



thumb and long finger are nearly in line. 



Plants used as Food or for Other Purposes. 



Several native roots still constitute notable items in the food of the Shuswaps, though 

 their importance in this respect has much decreased since flour and other farinaceous 

 foods have become common, and particularly since the cultivation of the potato has 

 become customary among the Indians. Roots are always dug and cooked or cured by the 

 women. In digging the roots a pointed stick about four feet in length, with a crutch- 

 shaped handle, is used. 



The native root chiefly sought for and most largely employed is that of the lily {L. 

 Columbianum), named tâh-tshin! in both Shoo-whâ'-pa-mooh and N-tla-kâ-pe-mooh. This 

 often weighs several ounces, and the places in which it abounds are well known and 



