150 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



[Vol. IV. 



OBJECTS OF MIXED MATERIAL. 



As may be seen by figs. 139 and 140, the Dene drums, though poss- 

 essing minor characteristics of their own, do not essentially differ from 

 the tambourines in universal use among the North American Indians. 

 In every case we have merely a dressed skin — which is here of cariboo — 

 stretched ove a narrow hoop. The Carrier drum (fig. 139) not only had 

 no bottom strings, but its makers even dispensed with any cord as a 

 means of holding the instrument. The same piece of skin in which 

 almost consisted the whole drum was cut on the reverse or back side 

 into four strips tapering to the centre into regular strings which were 

 knotted as shown above, b, and which served as a means of grasping the 

 instrument. 



Fig. i39<j. 



Fig. 139 '^• 



The Tse'kehne drum (fig. 140) though apparently a very simple piece 

 of workmanship, evidences much greater ingenuity on the part of its 

 contrivers. Not only does it possess the bottom strings designed to 

 enhance its sonorousness, but these very strings are so disposed that they 

 help not a little in using the instrument. After passing beneath the 

 frame of the drum they are drawn up over it under the encircling skin, 

 and again introduced through the middle of the hoop from which they 

 protrude inside in the shape of a loop through which the thumb is passed 



a matter of fact, all the arms and defensive weapons above enumerated had their counterparts on 

 this side of the Rockies but a short time ago. In that "skin tunic covered with small coagulated 

 pebbles," we recognize, of course, the /f-}/;? just described ; the lances regarded by Petitot, after 

 his informants, as so very ancient were the s9Kth?z spoken of on page 62 ; the epieux or spears 

 are not materially different : Petitot describes them as "hafted hooks" and it so happens that 

 the Carrier name of these weapons means "hook-sticks." The cross-bows we have likewise 

 seen in use among the Tse'kehne, while the daggers and the shields were no less common among 

 the Carriers. Nay more, even the "false hair," or wigs were in vogue here as late as thirty- 

 years ago. These will be found described in our Chapter on Dress and Personal Adornment. 



