SOME OCCUPATIONS OF INDIAN TRIBES 17 



the forest, for years ago, before the Canadian police 

 were known, large bands of fierce Indians, named 

 Kwakiutl,&quot; from Vancouver Island preyed upon 

 the quieter coast Salish, carrying off their women, 

 children, and stores. Even now, says a missionary 

 named Father Morice, the Dene are afraid of the 

 fierce, warlike tribes who paddled their long canoes 

 for many miles up the Fraser River. 



The only pieces of furniture worth mentioning 

 are large treasure chests constructed from planks 

 of cedar firmly held by wooden rivets, so that the 

 joints are quite watertight. Such boxes held 

 blankets, costumes worn at dances, and other 

 treasures, of which a chief owned a vast supply. 



Salish tribes of the interior had two sets of dwell 

 ings, a heavy timber one for winter use, and for 

 summer a light cool structure made by stretching 

 mats over a wooden framework. A similar summer 

 habitation is made by the northern Dene tribes, 

 whose pointed tent has the appearance of a true 

 Indian &quot; wigwam/ and at the present time an en 

 campment of these tribes has the same appearance 

 as it had a century ago, when visited by the 

 great explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie. 



Of equal importance with the building of houses 

 is the manufacture of clothing, for which all Indian 

 tribes have an abundance of raw material obtained 

 during hunting excursions. The moose which by 

 the way is a domestic animal and beast of burden 

 among the northern Dene furnishes a good hide, 

 which along with deerskin can be made into 

 strong trousers and leggings, or into shoes named 

 &quot; moccasins.&quot; Blankets, forming a covering for 

 3 



