CANOES MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 633 



racts or waterfalLs. It is similar to the eel-traps sometimes 

 used at mills. As the water pours into it, the fish are often 

 caught in great numbers. These traps, however, require a 

 considerable amount of ingenuity and a great exertion of 

 strength for their construction, as large timbers must be used, 

 to withstand the strenoth of the current. 



CANOES. 



Most of the tribes make their canoes out of single trees, 

 which they hollow and expand by means of a fire placed be- 

 neath them, gradually inserting wedges and cross-pieces. It 

 is first reared on trestles, with a slit downwards over the fire 

 — which is kept up for seven or eight hours. The process 

 requires great and constant attention, to avoid cracks, and 

 make the canoe bend with the proper dip at the two ends. 

 Additional planks are often secured to the sides, while the 

 stem and stern are formed of semicircular boards pegged on to 

 the ends of the trunk. The seams are then caulked with 

 gum. The paddles have oval blades, and are about three feet 

 in length, cut out of single pieces. 



MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 



A somewhat complicated musical instrument, consisting of 

 twelve pipes or trumpets, made of bamboos fastened together, 

 with trumpet-shaped mouth-pieces of bark, is used by one 

 tribe of Indians. The sounds are not disagreeable, resembling 

 some\\'hat clai-ionets and bassoons. No woman, however, is 

 allowed to see them ; and as soon as they are brought out, all 

 the females hurry off to hide themselves. Should any one 

 attempt to observe the mysterious instrument, she is imme- 

 diately put to death, — generally by poison. A father or a 



