191 



tlieir women accompany them on their expeditions, and assist in wovkin-j^ the 

 canoes. On arriving at the enemy's viUage, they enter into a parley, and 

 endeavor by negotiation to terminate the quarrel amicably. Sometimes a 

 third party, who preserves a strict neutrality, undertakes the office of 

 mediator; but should their joint efforts fail in procuring redress, they imme- 

 diately prepare for action. Should the day be far advanced, the combat is 

 deferred by mutual consent till the following moi-ning, and they p;iss the 

 night intervening in frightful yells and making use of abusive and insulting 

 language to each other. They generally fight from their canoes, which they 

 take care to incline to one side presenting the higher flank to the enemy; 

 and in this position with their bodies quite bent the battle commences. 

 Owing to the curve of their canoes, and their impenetrable armor, it is seldom 

 bloody; and as soon as one or two men fall, the party to whom they belong 

 acknowledge themselves vanquished and the combat ceases. If the assail- 

 ants be unsuccessful, they return without redress; but if conquerors, they 

 receive various presents from the vanquished party in addition to their 

 original demand. The women and children are always sent away before 

 the engagement conmiences. 



The same description will apply to most of the battles on the Sound, 

 except where northern tribes are concerned, who are more warlike and 

 ferocious. Most of those which have been witnessed by early settlers con- 

 sisted chiefly in howling at night and firing their guns, beyond bullet-range, 

 in the day; their faces are painted in accordance. But there are some 

 instances of more determined conduct. The now almost extinct tribe of 

 Tsemakum, hving on Port Townshend, were, by the common report, very 

 troublesome neighbors, and on bad terms with all. They were first broken 

 by the Makah, who partake of the superior courage of their race. They 

 are said also to have had a great fight with the Snohomish many years ago, 

 and some seven years since were attacked and their fort destroyed by the 

 Sukwamish, under Seahtl. In these affrays, as well as in a fight between 

 the Klallam and Snohomish, a number of lives were lost. But the real 

 method of warfare among them was by murder, overpowering individuals 

 by numbers, or killing them by stealth and unawares. In this way, their 

 wars, so to call them, were kept up. 



