1892-93.] NOTES ON THE WESTERN DENES. 49 



the same time a pestle and a hammer.* But the mode of using it was. 

 identical in both cases ; the contact between the matter pounded or 

 hammered was only at the bottom of the larger end, the hand grasping 

 the instrument in the middle. I have witnessed old men working with 

 such stone hammers among the Skwahomishf with whom the Tsi^Koh'tin 



have occasional intercourse. 



All races of American Aborigines are proverbially improvident, and 

 our Western Denes cannot be said to form an exception to the rule. Yet 

 these very implements, when used as pounders or pestles, testify to the 

 fact that the Carriers at least had at times a thought for the morrow. 

 In times of plenty, they pounded therewith dried salmon previously well 

 grilled by the fireside, and kept the mash in a tcajyaj, one of their bark 

 vessels which shall be described further on. When this had been 

 spriwkled over with salmon oil, the vessel was hermetically closed and 

 the whole laid aside for use when, owing to the failure of the fishing 

 season or any other cause, the natives were hard pressed by famine. 

 Under similarly strained circumstances, salmon bones, or indeed the bones 

 of any animal, were, and are, also likewise treated, and made to obviate 

 similar needs. 



Here(figs. 14 and 1 5) are slickstones or stone scrapers,;): which serve in the 

 process of tanning hides. As may be seen, they are of a very primitive pat- 



* Pe-^lt'pz, "whferewith one pounds or hammers," a verbal noun. 



tThe Sk'qo'mic of Dr. Boas. 



X Pe-9ltzeh " wherewith one scrapes " in Carrier ; tse-tqel, "stone-broad" in Tse'kehne. 



