Shell-Trumpets and their Distribution. 65 
thrown up like a curtain, and the external mat was 
carefully removed from the shell, that it might have air. 
Some of the consecrated tobacco suspended from the 
coverings of the shell was taken by the medicine men 
and smoked to’ the’ “Great Medicine.” | During ° this 
ceremony everyone listened most attentively, hoping to 
hear a sound proceed from the sacred shell. At length 
someone imagined he heard a noise resembling a forced 
expiration of air from the lungs, and this was considered 
a favourable omen, and the tribe prepared for the expe- 
dition, confident of success. If, on the contrary, the shell 
obstinately remained silent, the result of the expedition 
was regarded as doubtful. 
A. P. Niblack, in his work on “ The Coast Indians of 
Southern Alaska and Northern British Columbia’ gives 
some interesting details of the traditions and myths of the 
Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribes of the north-west 
coast, in which are expressed many ideas concerning the 
religion and cosmogony of these people. Among the F{aida, 
it was believed, the creator of all things and the bene- 
factor of man was the great raven called WNe-#z/-stlas. 
This mythical personage was no ordinary bird, but had 
many human attributes, and was capable of transforming 
himself into anything in the world. The stories of his 
adventures in peopling the world are numerous. One of 
the most interesting of these stories is given by Niblack, 
as follows: “ According to the Haida and Kaigani the 
first people sprang from a cockle-shell (Cardiuim corbts, 
Mast.). We-fz/-stlas became very lonely and began to look 
about him for a mate, but could find none. At last he 
took a cockle-shell from the beach, and marrying it, he 
still continued to brood and think earnestly of his wish 
for a companion. By and by he heard a faint cry in 
‘LT Report U.S. Nat. Afus., 1887-8 (1890), p. 378. 
