CHAPTER II 



SOME OCCUPATIONS OF INDIAN TRIBES 



AT many points along the shores of British 

 Columbia the traveller may notice the 

 large strongly-built dwellings of the coast Salish, 

 who are experts in splitting stout logs from the 

 cedar tree by means of implements made from the 

 horns of the elk and wood of maple trees. Such 

 large dwellings, some of which had a length of over 

 200 feet, were, of course, occupied by more than 

 one family, and as a rule there were at least half 

 a dozen hearths, each belonging to one of several 

 closely related families who occupied the same large 

 dwelling. The interior of the building was divided 

 into rooms by curtains manufactured from reeds 

 or grasses ; temporary screens of this kind were 

 easily removed when the whole room was required 

 for winter dancing festivities, which were generally 

 connected with religious beliefs. Extending all 

 round the walls of the hut was a low platform, which, 

 covered with skins and blankets made from hair 

 of dogs and mountain goats, served as a most 

 comfortable bed, while on its under side could 

 be stored dried fish, roots and berries collected 

 during summer, and vast quantities of fir cones and 

 firewood. Such stores were frequently hidden in 



