EXTRACTS. 303 



Dunn (John): The Oregon Territory, and the British North American Fur 

 Trade; New York, 1845. [Chinooks, etc.]. " The salmon season of those tribes 

 towards the mouth of the Columbia commences in June : and its opening is 

 an epoch looked forward to with much anxiety, and is attended with great formal- 

 ity. They have a public festival, and offer sacrifices. The first salmon caught is 

 a consecrated thing ; and is offered to the munificent Spirit who is the giver of 

 plenty. They have a superstitious scruple about the mode of cutting salmon ; 

 especially at the commencement of the season, before they have an assurance of 

 a plentiful supply. To cut it crosswise, and to cast the heart into the water, they 

 consider most unlucky, and likely to bring on a scarce season. Hence they are 

 very reluctant to supply the traders at the stations with any, until the season is 

 advanced, and they can calculate on their probable stock ; lest an unlucky cross 

 cut by the white men may mar all their prospects. Their mode is to cut it along 

 the back ; they take out the back bone, and most studiously avoid throwing the 

 heart into the water. The heart they broil and eat ; but will not eat it after 

 sunset. So plentiful is the fish, that they supply the white men with it in abun- 

 dance." " Their canoes 'vary in size and form. Some are thirty feet 



long, and about three feet deep, cut out of a single tree either fir or white 

 cedar and capable of carrying twenty persons. They have round thwart pieces 

 from side to side, forming a sort of binders, about three inches in circumference; 

 and their gunwales incline outwards, so as to cast off the surge ; the bow and 

 stern being decorated, sometimes, with grotesque figures of men and animals. 

 In managing their canoes, they kneel two and two along the bottom, sitting on 

 their heels, and wielding paddles about five feet long ; while one sits on the stern 

 and steers, with a paddle of the same kind. The women are equally expert in 

 the management of the canoe, and generally take the helm. It is surprising to 

 see with what fearless unconcern these savages venture in their slight barks on 

 the most tempestuous seas. They seem to ride upon the waves like sea-fowl. 

 Should a surge throw the canoe upon one side and endanger its overturn, those 

 to windward lean over the upper gunwale thrust their paddles deep into the 

 wave apparently catch the water, and force it under the canoe ; and by this 

 action, not merely regain an equilibrium, but give the vessel a vigorous impulse 

 forward." (Page 87, etc.). 



" Sturgeon are caught by the Chinooks in the following manner. To the 

 line which is made from the twisted roots of trees is attached a large hook, 

 made of hard wood. This is lowered some twenty feet below the surface of the 

 water. The canoes arc not more than ten feet long ; manned by never more 

 than two, sometimes only by one; and slowly drift down the river with the 

 current, When the sturgeon bites, and they have him fast, the line is hauled 

 up gently until they get his head to the water's edge. He then receives a blow 

 from a heavy wooden mallet, which kills him. The gunwale of the canoe is 



