1892-93.] 



NOTES OX THE WESTKRN DENES. 



181 



personages. 1 mean the j-/(;/(a:j--'>(v/ (grizzly-bear-claws). Its name denotes 

 the nature of its material. These claws are secured to a band of cariboo 

 skin by means of sinew threads passed in a hole bored through their root 

 part. A double row of dentalium shells two lengths between each claw, 

 runs through their upper or slender half, ensuring by means of the sinew 

 thread on which they are mounted solidity for the crown and unity for its 

 component parts. 



Fig. 172. 



The grizzly bear is the lion of our mountains, and those who presume 

 to wear its spoils thereby lay claim either to supernatural power or to 

 uncommorf courage. Such are the medicine men or shamans and a few 

 untitled hunters too proud of their deeds and supposed prowess not to 

 parade them on every available occasion. Such then were the natural 

 possessors of this curious head-dress. I must add that the shamans did 

 not confine their extravagance to the wearing of this crown ; the spoils, 

 generally the head, of any other wild beast, the wolf, the coyote {cams la- 

 trans) the black bear, etc., were also laid under contribution to help 

 to impress the bystanders with the awfulness of the powers they were 

 supposed to be endowed with, l^ut this was only while in the act of 

 practising their occult art. 



One peculiarity of the preceding cut cannot fail to strike the reader. 

 It is the mode of wearing the hair therein illustrated. This style was 

 common among the Carriers. When at home, or anywhere when in 

 repose, they had it plaited in a queue resting on the back ; but when 

 travelling they found it more convenient to tie it up in a knot behind the 

 neck. Both men and women — except when widowed or in mourning 



