48 



THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 



principally by the boys, who are not very dexterous in its use, but manage to kill 

 birds and other small game ; as a weapon of defence it is scarcely ever used, fire 

 arms entirely superseding it, most, if not all, of the men having guns. The arrows 

 are made of cedar split into the required size and finished with a knife. It is 

 usual when making arrows to be seated holding one end of the stick with the toes 

 of the left foot, and the other end in the left hand, and to use the knife by drawing 

 it towards the person. The arrow-heads are of various patterns ; some are made of a 

 piece of iron wire, which is usually obtained from the rim of some old tin pan or 

 kettle ; this is flattened at the point, sharpened, and a barb filed on one side, and 

 driven into the end of the shaft; a strip of bark is wound around it to keep the wood 

 from splitting. Some are made of bone with jagged edges, like barbs ; others of 

 two pieces of wood or bone so attached as to form a very acute angle to the shaft; 

 others again are regularly shaped, double-barbed, and with triangular heads of 

 iron or copper, of very neat workmanship. All the arrows are winged or tipped 

 with feathers to give them a steady flight through the air. They are all buoyant, 

 so as to be readily recovered after having been shot at waterfowl, for the aim while 

 shooting from a canoe can no more be relied on than in throwing a stone. Fre 

 quently five or six arrows will be shot at a duck before it is hit, and they will often 

 miss it altogether. 



The bird spears are made of three or four prongs of different lengths, jagged, and 

 barbed, and fastened to a pole or -staff ten or twelve feet long, with 

 a place at the upper end for the hand to press against. This spear is 

 used at night, when the natives go in a canoe with fire to attract the 

 birds. The prongs are made either of wood or bone. Fish spears 

 have longer poles, and barbs of iron or bone, and are used for spear 

 ing fish, echini, and crabs. The manufacture of implements is prac 

 tised by all; some, however, producing neater articles, are more 

 employed in this way. The manufacture of whaling implements, 

 particularly the staff of the harpoon and the harpoon head, is confined 

 to individuals who dispose of them to the others. This is also the 

 case with rope making; although all understand the process, some 

 are peculiarly expert, and generally do the most of the work. Canoe 

 making is another branch that is confined to certain persons who have 

 more skill than others in forming the model and in finishing the work. 

 Although they do not seem to have regular trades in these manufac 

 tures, yet the most expert principally confine themselves to certain 

 branches. Some are quite skilful in working iron and copper, others 

 in carving, or in painting; while others, again, are more expert in 

 catching fish or killing whales. 

 Although clay is found at Neeah Bay, the Indians do not know how to manu 

 facture earthen or pottery ware. Their ancient utensils for boiling were simply 

 wooden troughs, and the method of cooking in them being by hot stones, with which 

 they could boil or steam whatever they desired to prepare. These troughs are used 

 by many at the present day, and are preferred for cooking fish and potatoes to 

 boiling in kettles ; particularly on occasions of feasting, where a large quantity of 



Bird apear. 



