132 TKANSACnONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. IV, 



the hemlock (Conium viacidatuin) which they roasted over the ashes, 

 and, after crushing with the hand, they ap[)hed to the ailing spot. But 

 owing to the poisonous nature of this root, they now refrain from using 

 it for any purpose. 



Of special value to the women as a help after parturition was the 

 hwujrdj, a plant commonly known, I think, under the name of Devil's 

 bush (Fatsia Jiorrida). The bark was mashed while fresh and taken 

 internally with a few drops of water by women just delivered of a child, 

 but whose after-birth had not been, or could not otherwise be, expelled. 

 It did also frequent service as a purgative for persons of both sexes. 



Even such delicate diseases as sore-eyes had in the Carriers' estimation 

 a valued antidote in the vegetable kingdom. "This consisted in a 

 mixture of the root of the soap berry bush and of the wild rose (Rosa 

 b/anda) tree. After they had been stripped of their outside bark, the 

 cambium like layer next to the wood was carefully scraped off, mixed 

 with a few drops of clean water and delicately crushed with a flint or a 

 knife till a sort of ointment was formed which was then applied to the 

 eyes. Though sore eyes are by no means rare among the Western 

 Denes, no application of this sedative ever fell under my observation. 



A few other plants or herbs are also used, the medical properties of 

 which have been revealed to the natives by the H. B. Co. people or, later 

 on, by the missionaries. J^ut all those above enumerated are strictly 

 aboriginal medicines. 



Other Bark Implements. 



We now revert to the bark implements. Two models of bark utensils 

 differing slightly in form and much in use from those illustrated in the 

 first part of this chapter are, or were, common among the Carriers. 

 One is the trough-shaped vessel already mentioned as serving to bail 

 in the fruits of the high cranberry. It is of spruce bark, of rude and 

 temporary make, and resembles the fps-fsai or fish-basket in every 

 particular save that it is deeper. Though it occasionally serves as a 

 boiler with regard to edible berries, it is more often used to cook for 

 their oil the heads of salmon or other large fish. 



The last vessel of Carrier make 

 which remains to describe is now a 

 thing of the past. It was of birch 

 bark, flattish and rectangular, and 

 had but one narrow side (fig. 120). 

 Its brim was, as usual, strengthened 

 by the apposition of a willow switch 

 running along its three sides. It served as a bathing tub for the infants 



i<'ig. 1 20. 



