Pacific Coast and Islands 185 



one end of it as a bedroom. The worst feature of 

 our hut was its position, which I found was within 

 a few yards of a broken-down dead-house which 

 had been formed of bark. This was filled with 

 dead bodies. In bark mats, in dirty blankets, 

 and in old grease boxes the dead were heaped; 

 and when the wind blew from that direction, our 

 position became very trying. But this was not 

 all. The Haidas, many of whom had never seen 

 a white woman, crowded into our little shanty 

 in their paint and feathers, and squatted down 

 on the floor, so closely packed together that there 

 was not room to move. Had it not been for the 

 open door we must have been stifled, as the 

 peculiar odour arising from their hunting and 

 fishing garb was overwhelming. The only win 

 dow a half one at the end of the hut was 

 darkened by an array of faces besmeared with 

 black and red paint, so that both light and air 

 were scarce. Not knowing their language, I 

 could not convey to them our desire, or, had I 

 attempted to drive them out, I might have been 

 ejected in turn, or subjected to even rougher 

 treatment. I concluded, therefore, that what 

 could not be helped must be endured. Day after 

 day this continued, so that it was impossible to 

 get near the stove or to prepare any food.&quot; 



The contrast was presented when at Christmas, contrast 

 a few years later, &quot;The Hydahs from outlying 

 settlements came in canoes to the chief trading 

 post, Masse tt, to engage, as they expected, in the 

 usual wild dances, with painted faces and black- 



