11)3 



part of tlie scalp, were borne on their points some inclies above the rest of 

 the skull. Between the stakes a fire had been made, and near it some cal- 

 cined bones were observed, but none of these appearances enabled us to 

 satisfy ourselves concerning the manner in which the bodies had been dis- 

 posed of." No suspicion of cannibalism exists against any of these tribes. 

 It is most probable that the fire had been the visual cooking-fire of Indians, 

 and that the heads were those of enemies slain by the Tsemakum, and set 

 lip in this manner in defiance on leaving their camp. It is possible that 

 they may have burned the bodies; but such a practice has not been noticed, 

 and certainly never was common among them. 



FOOD. 



The principal food of the Indians on the west side of the Cascades may 

 be briefly set down as fish, roots, and berries. Game furnishes to but few 

 of them any considerable item. There are mountain-sheep or, more prop- 

 erly goats, in the higher parts of the range ; but they probably never con- 

 stituted an important article of food, their wool being the principal object 

 of their capture. Elk and deer are hunted to a certain extent, chiefly by 

 the bands nearest the mountains; and the Snokwalm, in fact, kill more of 

 the latter on the islands than do the Sound Indians themselves. Lewis and 

 Clarke speak of game as having rather furnished an article of luxury than 

 of support to the Tsinfik, though abundant in their country. A hunter is, 

 in fact, looked upon with respect by almost every tribe in the district. 



The roots used are numerous; but the wappatu, or sagittaria, and the 



kamas are the principal. These are found in great quantities, the former 



in ponds, the latter in the prairies, particularly such as are wet ; and they 



were formerly a great article of trade with the interior. Besides these, the 



roots of the sunflower and fern are largely used, and a small white root of 



rather insipid taste. From the fern, they make a species of flour which is 



baked into bread. The kamas season is in the latter part of May and June, 



and then as well as in the fall when the sunflower is dug, the prairies are 



dotted over with squaws, each armed with a sharp stake and a basket, busil}' 



eno-a^-ed in digging them. At these times, camps are generally found near 



the skirts of timber which border the open lands for the convenience of 

 13 



