196 



TRANSACTIONS OF THK CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



[Vol. IV.. 



the war." This primitive fort consisted of a log-house as solid as possible 

 under the circumstances, with a strong log roofing, over which a square 

 breastwork of small diameter was built with the same material. If not 

 taken by surprise, the besieged shot at their assailants through loop-holes 

 pierced in this rude stronghold, the existence of which was concealed by 

 fascines of coniferous branches piled on the roof up to the top of its 

 walls. Similar portholes were also cut in the walls of the house itself 

 for service in case of a sudden attack. As a further protection against 

 such a contingency, an addition with a second door was always made to 

 the front end of the house. Frequently a building similar in appearance, 

 but really of no strength whatever, was erected in close proximity so as 

 to deceive the enemy and give time during an attack on the wrong work 

 to the besieged to prepare for the defence. The only D^ne " fort " I 

 have ever seen was constructed just as described, but wanted the roof 

 breastwork. 



An indispensable adjunct to the native dwelling house is the tsa-tcdn* 

 or provision store. There is stowed away the dried salmon, which is the 



daily bread of both Carrier and TsijKoh'tin. But while both tribes 

 practically live on the same diet, their store houses very materially differ 



in construction. Fig. 182 is the Carrier 

 tsa-tc9n which, as may be seen, is an 

 aerial building. The distinctive charac- 

 teristics of all these provision stores are 

 faithfully reproduced in the cut ; but 

 their minor details nowadays vary not a 

 little. I have chosen for illustration 

 ^^^^^f^Sr^^'''?-^"- that which approaches nearer to the 

 '"'--'^'^'"^^''^ traditional type. It consists of two 

 parallel frames planted upright in the 

 ground, the component parts of which 

 are furnished in the middle with transversal beams upon which rests the 

 floor of the tsa-tc9n proper. With the exception of the front end, the 

 whole is made of heavy poles superposed one upon another or laid in 

 close juxtaposition, as the case may be, and fastened to the frame of the 

 building by means of 'kdn or high cranberry bush wattle. The front end 

 is entirely of boards. All the wall poles being laid with their larger ends 

 in the same direction, a slight inclination results at the top, which con- 

 stitutes the roof of the building. This is furthermore covered with 

 spruce bark. 



Fie. 182. 



Literally: "beaver-stick." I can see no reason for this etymology. 



