l892-y3.] 



NOTES ON THE WESTERN DENES. 



145 



CHAPTER IX. 

 Skin Objects and Twined and Textile Fabrics. 



skin objects. 



Under this head we will consider any native items wherein dressed or 

 undressed skin enters as the chief component part. 



Passing references to the treatment of hides have already appeared in 

 the course of the descriptions of the implements used by the Western 

 Den^s to free them of hair, fat or blood. It now merely remains with 

 me to add that after the skin in preparation has been rubbed over with 

 the brains of the animal, it is allowed to pass a whole night steeping in 

 cold water. It is then subjected to several rinsings m hot water, alter- 

 nating with thorough scrapings, until, being quite dry, soft and pliable, 

 it is given the form of a bag and placed over the smoke of decayed wood 

 or other vegetable matter. Once it has been thus smoked on both sides, 

 it is ready for use. 



Fig. 134- 



Among the TsijKoh'tin skin dressing is practically confined to the 

 hide of the deer, while among the Tse'kehne moose and cariboo skins 



