154 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



[Vol. IV. 



The Tse'kehne snow-shoes are remarkable for the number of their 

 cross-Sticks. They generally have six of them, three in front, and three: 

 back of the middle or coarse netting. They thus gain in solidity what 

 they lose' in lightness.* 



i^'ig- 143- 



The last variety of Carrier snow-shoes is herewith figured. Its form 



will no doubt explain its native name, sds-khe^ 

 " black bear foot." It is proper to little children 

 before they are sufficiently grown up to use the 

 common snow-shoes. Not unfrequently, women, 

 especially those who are poorly circumstanced or 

 unprepared for a heavy fall of snow, will be seen 

 wearing similar, though of course much larger, 

 snow-shoes. Naturally the frame of such primitive 

 implements is composed of only one stick whose 

 ends are rudely lashed together. Instead of having 

 the cross-stick notched in as in the above figure, it 

 is more generally forced in a shallow hole mortised 

 at either side of the frame. 



As these implements are essentially temporary, 

 they are often of a rude description. Such is not 

 the case with the pfjii and the 'aiJi-sa. Not only 

 are the wooden parts of these carefully shaved and 

 Fig. 144. scraped over, but they are generally daubed with, 



red ochre, and in not a few cases covered with a coat of red or blue 

 paint. 



* The reason of this is their great length which is intended to deaden the creaking of the 

 frozen snow caused by, the short snow-shoe, and thereby not to betray the approach of the 

 hunter. 



