ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 221 



pans, kettles, clothing, &c., of the deceased, were all suspended 

 upon sticks, driven into the ground near the head board. 



June 6th. — The Indians frequently bring us salmon, and we 

 observe that, invariably, before they part with them, they are 

 careful to remove the hearts. This superstition, is religiously 

 adhered to by all the Chinook tribe. Before the fish is split and 

 prepared for eating, a small hole is made in the breast, the heart 

 taken out, roasted, and eaten in silence, and with great gravity. This 

 practice is continued only during the first month in which the 

 salmon make their appearance, and is intended as a kind of pro- 

 pitiation to the particular deity or spirit who presides over the 

 finny tribes. Superstition in all its absurd and most revolting 

 aspects is rife among this people. They believe in " black spi- 

 rits, and white, blue spirits, and grey," and to each grizzly 

 monster some peculiar virtue or ghastly terror is attributed. 

 When a chief goes on a hunting or fishing excursion, he puts him- 

 self under the care of one these good spirits, and if his expedition is 

 unsuccessful, he affirms that the antagonist evil principle has 

 gained the victory ; but this belief does not prevent his making 

 another, and another attempt, in the hope, each time, that his 

 guardian genius will have the ascendency. 



In their treatment of diseases, they employ but few remedies, 

 and these are generally simple and inefficacious. Wounds are 

 treated with an application of green leaves, and bound with strips 

 of pine bark, and in some febrile cases a sweat is administered. 

 This is effected by digging a hole two or three feet deep in the 

 ground, and placing within it some hemlock or spruce boughs 

 moistened with water ; hot stones are then thrown in, and a 

 frame work of twigs is erected over the opening, and covered 

 closely with blankets to prevent the escape of the steam. Under 

 this contrivance, the patient is placed ; and aficr remaining 



