38 



THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 



certain customs of the tribe. Neither the paintings nor carvings on these miniature 

 canoes have any symbolical value or -other significance attached to them. All the 

 large canoes, in fact all except the miniature ones, are invariably painted red inside, 

 and charred or painted black outside. 



The paddles are made of yew, and are usually procured by barter with the 

 Clyoquot Indians. The blade is broad like an oar blade, and the end rounded in 

 an oval or lanceolate form. The handle is a separate piece fitted transversely with 

 the length of the paddle, and sufficiently long to afford a good hold for the hand. 

 These paddles when new are blackened by slightly charring them in the fire, and 

 then rubbed smooth and slightly polished. 



The sails were formerly made of mats of cedar bark, which are still used by some 

 of the Clyoquots, although most of the tribes in the vicinity now use cotton. 

 The usual form is square, with sticks at the top and bottom like a vessel s yards ; 

 a line passes through a hole in the top of the mast, rigged from the lower stick, 

 and the sail is easily and quickly hoisted or lowered. When taken in it is rolled 

 round the lower ya*l, and can be enlarged to its full size or reduced to adjust it to 

 the force of the wind. Some Indians have adopted sprit-sails, but they are not in 

 general use, nor are they as safe or convenient for the canoe as the square sail. 



Fig. 20. 



Canoe under sail. 



In cruising on the Strait they usually keep well in shore, unless they intend to 

 cross to the opposite side ; and, if the canoe is large and heavily laden, they always 

 anchor at night, and for this purpose use a large stone tied to a stout line. Some 

 times they moor for the night by tying the canoe to the kelp. When the craft is 

 not heavily burdened it is invariably hauled on the beach whenever the object is 

 to encamp. If the wind is fair, or they have white men on board, they will travel 

 all night, but on their trading excursions they usually encamp, which causes much 

 delay in a journey. I have been seven days in the winter season making the 

 passage between Neeah Bay and Port Townsend, about one hundred miles, and 

 in the summer have made the same trip in but little over twenty-four hours. The 



