186 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITl TE. [VoL. IV. 



description of the lodge, the ground plan and front end of which will be 

 found in figs. 175 and 176. 



The main timbers of the building consist of the posts a and the beams 

 b, placed so as to form a parallelogram. The former are of spruce of as 

 large dimensions as can be found. After they have been cut to the 

 required length, they are hauled on skids to the place of construction. 

 Let me say here that as these posts — four in number — are the mainstay 

 of the house, they are regarded by the natives with feelings akin to 

 reverence which are furthermore excused by the circumstance of the 

 totem animal of the proprietor being generally carved in relief not far 

 from their upper end k. For this reason, the place of honour is at their 

 base and, in ceremonial gatherings, the noblemen were invariably seated 

 against them, surrounded by their co-gentile suite. 



After the logs had been stripped of their bark, they were rendered as 

 smooth-surfaced as possible by means of repeated scrapings. When 

 standing in position, their longitudinal half was made to jut out of the 

 plank wall. Not uncommonly, they were also painted with red ochre, 

 when a mash of carp roe served as oil and was smeared over the posts- 

 so as to prepare a sticking surface for the colouring matter. As a pre- 

 caution against too early decay, the butt end of each was wrapped 

 around with birch bark prior to its being covered up with earth. 



The head of these four posts or pillars is hollowed to receive two large 

 cylindrical beams or plates,/^, which are cut a little longer than the length 

 of the future lodge, so as to let their ends project in front. Four 

 secondary posts of smaller size, c, are next erected on the outside of the 

 parallelogram at equal distance from the first and form the corners of 

 the house. They likewise support on hollowed ends two smaller plates,, 

 y, over which the eaves of the roof are to rest. The ends of two trans- 

 versal beams of moderate dimensions, ^, the object of which is to further 

 solidify the structure and especially the gable walls, are then laid in a 

 notch cut out on these minor plates. The foregoing pieces constitute 

 the frame of the building. 



Once they are in place, the erection of the roof is proceeded with 

 As this is even to-day constructed on the same principle as formerly, it 

 deserves special mention. The rafters, //, are secured together at the top 

 of the roof by means of 'kdn or wattle of high cranberry bush ( Viburnum 

 paiicifloriim) passed through holes pierced in the proper places. Over 

 these are tied with willow bark, at intervals of one or two feet purlines 

 which are then covered with spruce bark. This is secured in place 

 principally by means of additional rafters laid over it and pressed down 



