NORTHWESTERN AMERICA. 207 



through October, after which they must depend principally upon 

 their stores of dried food, and the game (deer, bears, badgers, squir- 

 rels, and wild-fowl of various kinds,) which they may have the good 

 fortune to take. Should both these sources fail, they have recourse 

 to the moss before-mentioned, which, though abundant, contains 

 barely sufficient nutriment to sustain life. Such is their want of 

 forethought and prudence, both in laying up and in consuming their 

 provisions, that there are very few who do not suffer severely from 

 hunger before the opening of spring. Indeed, like their horses, they 

 regularly fatten up in the season of plenty, and grow lean and weak 

 before the expiration of winter. 



As the different root-grounds and fishing-stations are at some 

 distance from one another, they are obliged to remove from one to 

 the other in succession, carrying with them, on their horses, all their 

 property. This is easily done, as their articles of furniture are few 

 and light, and their houses consist merely of rush-mats and skins, 

 stretched upon poles. In winter they seek out some sheltered spot, 

 which will supply their horses with food, arid they then make their 

 dwellings more comfortable, by covering the mats with earth. 



The Salish can hardly be said to have any regular form of govern- 

 ment. They live in bands of two or three hundred, chiefly for the 

 sake of mutual support and protection. In former times there was 

 much fighting among these tribes, but they still looked upon one 

 another as portions of the same people. At present, by the influence 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company, these quarrels have been suppressed. 

 Intermarriages between these bands are frequent, and in such cases 

 the husband commonly joins the band to which his wife belongs. 

 This proceeds, perhaps, from the circumstance that the woman does 

 the most for the support of the family, and will be better able to 

 perform her duties (of gathering roots, fruit, &c.,) in those places to 

 which she is accustomed. In fact, although the women are required 

 to do much hard labor, they are by no means treated as slaves, but, 

 on the contrary, have much consideration and authority. The stores 

 of food which they collect are regarded as, in a manner, their own, 

 and a husband will seldom take any of them without asking permis- 

 sion. The men, moreover, have to perform all the arduous -labors of 

 the fishery and the chase. 



They evince strong domestic feelings, and are very affectionate 

 towards their children and near relatives. Unlike the Sahaptin, and 

 some other tribes, they take particular care of the aged and infirm, 



