1892-93.] 



NOTKS ON THE WESTERN DENES. 



59 



thoroughly saturated with glue. Finally when the string had attained a 

 sufficient thickness for efficient service, it was repeatedly rubbed over 

 with the gum of the black pine {Abies balsamed). 



Fig. 31- 



A less elaborate bow (Fig. 31) is still to this very day in use among 

 the Tse'kehne in connection with the blunt arrow already mentioned. It 

 is of seasoned willow {Salix longifolia), and being devoid of any sinew 

 backing or other strengthening device, its edges are more angular than 

 those of Fig. 30. Its string consists merely of a double line of cariboo 

 skin slightly twisted together. The specimen figured above measures 

 four feet ten inches. 



Fig. 32. 



The Carrier bow was never much more than four feet in length, and 

 the wooden part of it was invariably juniper (/. occidentalis). Instead 

 of being twisted around as in the Tse'kehne bow, the shreds of sinew 

 were glued on the back after the fashion of the Eskimo bow, with this 

 difference, however, that in the Carrier weapon the sinew was not plaited. 

 When a layer of thin sinew strips had been fastened lengthwise on the 

 entire back of the bow, it was allowed to dry, after which others were 

 successively added until the desired strength had been obtained. A 

 process analogous to that whereby the Tse'kehne bow-string was made 

 was followed in cording the string of the Carrier bow. 



It is hardly necessary to remark that both of the aforesaid war and 

 hunting bows disappeared almost simultaneously with the establishment 

 of the North- West Company's posts throughout Western Dene territory. 

 However, it may be said that as late as 60 years ago fire-arms were still 

 desiderata among the poorest class of Aborigines. 



Here is a Tse'kehne cro.ssb<-)W* of modern manufacture. It does duty 

 against small game or for target practice, and is also used by children as a 

 plaything. Although the old men assure me that they have always seen 

 such weapons among their fellow huntsmen, I cannot believe that cross- 

 bows were known to the original Tse'kehne. It is much more probable 

 that they have been derived from the band of Iroquois established in 

 close proximity to the territory of the Beaver Indians. My purpose in 



* TVkis I, " tliat which darts off," in Tse'keline. 



