FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [96] 



They believe that all living things — trees, birds, fishes, and animals — 

 were formerly Indians, who, on account of their wickedness, were trans- 

 formed into the shapes in which they now appear. They also believe 

 that two men, " brothers of the sun and moon," and termed " Ho-ho-e- 

 ap-bess," or the " men who change things," came on earth and made the 

 transformation. The seal was a pilfering Indian, and therefore his arms 

 were shortened and his legs tied so that he could only move his feet. 

 He was cast into the sea and told to catch fish for his food. The mink 

 was a great liar, and full of rascalities which he practiced on every one. 

 The blue-jay was the mother of the mink. The raven was a strong In- 

 dian fond of flesh, and, in fact, a sort of cannibal; and the crow was 

 his wife. The crane was a great fisherman. The king-fisher was also 

 a fisherman, but a great thief. He stole a necklace made of shells, and 

 this accounts for the ring of white feathers about his neck. 



The Makahs, in common with all the coast tribes, hold slaves. In 

 former times it is said the slaves were treated very harshly, and their 

 lives were of no more value than those of dogs. The treaty between 

 the United States and the Makahs makes it obligatory on this tribe to 

 free their slaves, and although this provision has not thus far been en- 

 forced, it has had the effect of securing to the latter better treatment 

 than they formerly had. Sometimes the master marries his slave wo- 

 man, or a mistress takes her slave man as her husband; the offspring 

 in such cases are regarded as half-slaves, and though some of them have 

 acquired wealth and influence among the tribe, yet the fact that their 

 fathers or mothers were slaves is considered as a stigma not to be 

 removed for several generations. The slaves appear to have no task- 

 work assigned them, but pursue the same avocations as their masters. 

 The men assist in the fisheries, and the women manufacture mats and 

 baskets or engage in domestic duties. Before the reservation was placed 

 under the charge of an agent of the Government, it was considered de- 

 grading for a chief or the owner of slaves to perform any labor except 

 to Imnt, fish, or kill whales, but latterly no distinction is made between 

 master and slave, but both are treated alike. 



They keep little record of time, but have names for the different 

 months, or " moons," twelve of which constitute two periods, the warm 

 and cold. They remember and speak of a few days or of a few months, 

 but of years, according to our computation, they know nothing. Their 

 " year " consists of six " moons." The first of these periods commences 

 in December, when the days begin to lengthen, and continues until 

 June, when, as the sun recedes and the days shorten, another period 

 commences and lasts until the shortest days. The seasons, however, 

 are recognized by them as they are by ourselves, namely, spring, sum- 

 mer, autumn, and winter. The names of the months are as follows : 



December is called the " moon" in which the chet-a-pook, or the CaU- 

 fornia gray whale, makes its appearance. 



Januarv is the "moon" in which the whale has its young. 



