INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 431 



need sharp eyes to detect him. Another and very large canoe, of ruder shape and workmanship, 

 being wide and shovel-nosed, is in use among all these tribes for the transportation of their 

 property and baggage. Among their characteristic manufactures are blankets or robes made 

 of dogs hair. They have a kind of cur with soft and long white hair, which they shear and 

 mix with a little wool or the ravellings of old blankets. This is twisted by rolling on the knees 

 into a cord or coarse yarn, and is then woven on a frame. They use the down of water-fowl in 

 the same way, mixing it with hair, and forming a very thick and warm fabric. 



The Clallams, as well as the Makahs and some other tribes, carry on a considerable trade 

 with Vancouver s island, selling their skins, oil, &c., and bringing blankets in return. At present 

 it is hardly worth while to check this traffic, even if it were possible ; but when the white 

 population increases, it may become necessary as a revenue measure. In any treaties made with 

 them, it should enter as a stipulation that they should confine their trade to the American side. 

 Apart of the CJallams are permanently located on that island, and it is believed that their lan 

 guage is an extensive one. The Lummi, on the northern shore of Bellingham bay, are a branch 

 of the same nation. 



This tribe have, within the last year, been guilty of the murder of three Americans, as well 

 as of several robberies. For the first, that of a man named Pettingill, one of the two perpetrators 

 was secured by arresting the chief, and has been in custody at Steilacoom some months 

 waiting his trial. The other case was the murder of Captain Jewell, master of the barque John 

 Adams, and of his cook, and was unknown till recently, as it was supposed that Jewell had 

 absconded. In both cases the parties had considerable sums in their possession, which fell into 

 the hands of the Indians. On learning of the last affair, a requisition was made by Governor 

 Stevens upon the officer commanding the military post at Steilacoom, and a party promptly 

 despatched there to support the special agent in securing the criminals. 



Some severe lesson is required to reduce them to order, as their natural insolence has been 

 increased by the weakness of the settlements near them, and by the facility with which they 

 can procure liquor. The establishment of a military post at some point on the Straits would 

 be very desirable for the purpose of overawing them and their neighbors. 



Above the Clallams are the Chimakum, formerly one of the most powerful tribes of the Sound, 

 but which, a few years since, is said to have been nearly destroyed at a blow by an attack of the 

 Snoqualmoos. Their numbers have been probably much diminished by the wars in which they 

 were constantly engaged. They now occupy some fifteen small lodges on Port Townsend bay, 

 and number perhaps seventy in all. Lately, the Clallams have taken possession of their country, 

 and they are, in a measure, subject to them. Their language differs materially from either that 

 of the Clallams or the Nisqually, and is not understood by any of their neighbors. In fact, they 

 seem to have maintained it a State secret. To what family it will ultimately be referred, cannot 

 now be decided. Their territory seems to have embraced the shore from Port Townsend to 

 Port Ludlow. Still above the Chimakum are the Toanhoock, occupying the western shore of 

 Hood s canal. They are a branch of the Nisqually nation ; but their dialect differs greatly from 

 those on the eastern side of the Sound. They amount to about 265. With them may be classed 

 the Skokamish, upon the head of the canal, who probably number 200. Neither of them have 

 had as much intercourse with the whites as most of the Sound tribes. 



Upon Puget sound, and the inlets communicating with it, are several small bands, the rem 

 nants of once larger tribes, formerly all, it is believed, under one head chief. Of these the 

 Squalli-ah-mish or Nis-qually is the most numerous, and deserves particular mention as having 

 given its name to the general language. Their respective numbers will be given in the general 

 statement. 



To the north of this group, another may be formed of those inhabiting the shores of Admiralty 

 inlet from Puyallup river to Suquamish head, including Vashore s and Bainbridge s islands, Port 

 Orchard, Elliott bay and the D Wamish river, and Port Madison. Most of them are nominally 



