INDIANS OF BEITISH COLUMBIA. 



49 



an extensive tise of auxiliary verbs in the inflexion of the verb. The enormous number 

 of dialects of the Coast Salish is particularly remarkable when compared with the 

 uniformity of the language of the Nutka, and with that of the Kwakiutl. 



The last group of the Salish are the Bilqula, who are widely separated from the rest. 

 Accordingly their language differs much, comparatively, from that of the Salish proper and 

 Coast Salish. It seems that a considerable number of foreign words, particularly such of 

 Kwakiutl origin, have been embodied in the language, while its grammar bears all the 

 characteristic features of the Salish grammar. The elimination of vowels has reached a 

 very great extent in this case, numerous words consisting exclusively of consonants. The 

 comparison upon page 50 shows that there can be no doubt as to the Salish origin of the 

 Bilqula. The fact that a number of expressions bearing upon the sea are the same in both 

 groups, leads me to the conclusion that they separated from the other tribes after having 

 lived for some time on the coast. 



The following list shows that the Wik'ë'nok", a tribe of Kwakiutl lineage, inhabiting 

 Elvers Inlet, borrowed many words from the Bilqula, and vice versa. The borrowed words 

 are marked with an asterisk : — 



Sec. II, 18S8. 7. 



