MORGAN. ] INDIAN TRIBES OF THE COLUMBIA. ria 
Lewis and Clarke often state the number of inhabitants with the number of 
houses, thus: 
“The Killamucks, who number fifty houses and a thousand souls.”! 
“The Chilts, who * * * are estimated at seven hundred souls and 
thirty-eight houses.” 
“The Clamoitomish, of twelve houses and two hundred and sixty 
souls.” 
“The Potoashees, of ten houses and two hundred souls.” 
“The Pailsk, of ten houses and two hundred souls.” 
“The Quinults, of sixty houses and one thousand souls.”? 
Speaking generally of the usages and customs of the tribes of the “‘Co- 
lumbia plains,” they make the following statements: ‘Their large houses 
usually contain several families, consisting of the parents, their sons and 
daughters-in-law and grandchildren, among whom the provisions are com- 
mon, and whose harmony is scarcely ever interrupted by disputes. Although 
polygamy is permitted by their customs, very few have more than a single 
wife, and she is brought immediately after the marriage into the husband’s 
family, where she resides until increasing numbers oblige them to seek 
another house In this state the old man is not considered the head of the 
family, since the active duties, as well as the responsibility, fall on some of 
the younger members. As these families gradually expand into bands, or 
tribes, or nations, the paternal authority is represented by the chief of each 
association. This chieftain, however, is not hereditary.”* Here we find 
among the Columbian tribes, as elsewhere, communism in living, but 
restricted to large households composed of several families. 
A writer in Harper’s Magazine, speaking of the Aleutians, remarks : 
“When first discovered this people were living in large vourts, or dirt houses, 
partially underground, * * * having the entrances through a hole in 
the top or centre, going in and out on a rude ladder. Several of these 
ancient yourts were very large, as shown by the ruins, being from thirty 
to eighty yards long and twenty to forty in width. .* * * In these 
large yourts the primitive Aleuts lived by fifties and hundreds for the double 
object of protection and warmth.”* 
2Tb., p. 443. 
1 Lewis and Clarke’s Travels, pp. 426-428. 
3 Harper’s Magazine, vol. 55, p. 806, 
