1892-93.] 



NOTES ON THE WESTERN DENES. 



169 



inserted in the large end of the other, were kept springing out, as it 

 were, from the septum by means of a sinew thread running from end to 

 end of the shells and through the perforated nasal partition. The ex- 

 tremities of the " ornament " were adorned by a small tuft of the red 

 down of the head of the wood-pecker (Ceophleics pileatiis). This orna- 

 ment was rarely exhibited outside of ceremonial gatherings. 



It can already be inferred from the foregoing that the Western Denes 

 prized as much thedentalium (D. Indianorum) shells as their kinsmen 

 who now inhabit the Hupa valley, in California. That the esteem of the 

 former for the red scalp of the wood-pecker is not confined to them may 

 be gathered from a perusal of Prof O. T. Mason's " The Ray Collection 

 from Hupa Reservation."* 



Fig. i6i. 



Lastly, with a view to enhance their natural attractiveness by means 

 of extrinsical ornaments, the young men and young women attached 

 on either side of their hair, a little above the ears, bunches of strings 

 decorated with dyed porcupine quills and beaver claws f or, more 

 recently, holding glass beads of various colours sometimes ending in 

 copper buttons, as is the case with fig. i6i. Until a few years ago, these 



*P. 231. 



\Nimpa-stla, "they lie 011 the face-edge," a verbal noun. 



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