PEOPLE OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. 87 



on the two posts. Before he left them, he said, ' You will always have a friend in me to 

 watch over you ; when any of you die, I shall weep with you.' This bird is represented 

 as carrying a whale in its claws. Whales' bones are said to have been found on the tops 

 of the mountains, the remains of Kwunûsïla's repasts." 



In addition to reverence for, or fear of, such fabled beings as those above described, 

 to superstitions attaching to localities, and the fear of sorcerers and sorceries, these people 

 believe in the existence of an unknown being of great power, answering to the idea of a 

 supreme God. This being is named Kî-T, and is respected, and petitioned in prayer. 



The close connexion of the culture-hero, Kan-c-a-ke-luh, with the sun, has already 

 appeared in the tales concerning him, together with the belief that the chiefs, or some of 

 them, are related to Kan-C-a-ke-luh by descent through his younger brother. Doubtless, also, 

 in connection with this, we find that the sun (n'l-la) under the name Kl-a-kun-a-e, or "our 

 chief," was formerly worshipped and prayed to for good health and other blessings. In 

 former times these people also addressed prayers to the mountains, under the name of 

 Noo'-mas, or " the ancients," for favourable winds. The high rocky island in the centre 

 of Queen Charlotte Sound, named Numas Island on the chart, is particularly known to 

 the Indians under this aspect as Noo'-mas, though it is also named Sâ'-loot-sï. 



Such of the traditions and stories of the Kwakiool as I have been able to ascertain 

 are given above literally and without change or embellishment, and no attempt is made 

 to account for discrepancies or to explain the origin of their myths and beliefs. 



VII. — Actual Condition of the Kwakiool People. 



The difficulties attendant on any effort toward the improvement of the condition and 

 mode of life of the coast tribes of British Columbia, are very grave ; and the actual results 

 of missionary labours, such as those carried on by Mr. Hall among the Kwakiool, and 

 other self-sacrificing persons elsewhere, are in most cases, to all appearance, small. 



It is difficult to induce individuals to abandon their old customs and bad habits, and 

 nearly impossible to prevent them from relapsing from time to time, owing to the fact 

 that they still live promiscuously among and herd together with the mass of the tribe. 

 Since the arrival of the whites, the Kwakiool, equally with other tribes, have became in a 

 word " demoralised." They have lost, to a great extent, their pride and interest in the 

 things which formerly occupied them, losing at the same time their spirit and self-respect, 

 and replacing it by nothing. It is comparatively easy at all times to obtain a sufficiency 

 of food, and food is at some seasons — as during the salmon run — to be had in the greatest 

 abundance with very little effort. Beyond this, there is nothing more to occupy their 

 time fully and to keep them out of mischief They are restless and unhappy. In some 

 seasons, good wages are to be obtained by picking hops in the vicinity of Puget Sound, and 

 it has thus became customary for many of the tribes to go south iu the autumn, nominally 

 for this purpose, but in reality with no great prospect of obtaining work. They may then 

 be seen leaving their villages in bodies in their large and well-built travelling canoes, 

 whole families together with their household effects and children, and three, four or five 

 paddlers to ea h canoe, setting out cheerfully enough on their voyage of two hundred 

 miles or more. They may obtain a little money while away, which they invest iu goods 



