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acters of history. If an Indian has been on a journey, perhaps the night ensu- 

 ing that of liis return the otliers come to his lodge. They ask no questions, 

 but sit quietly, and when he sees fit he commences a history of what he 

 saw and heard, even to the minutest details. The one who remembers the 

 most, or is the best cairier of news, has a coxTesponding importance. They 

 are exceedingly lewd in their common talk, the most indecent subjects being 

 coolly discussed or jested upon. When a couple of canoes meet, for instance, 

 they always stop to talk, to exchange news, and generally to "chaff" one 

 another, in a style that would electrify a Thames waterman. 



Their first meal when at home, is generally about ten or eleven o'clock; 

 the previous night, till a late hour, having probably been spent in gambling, 

 tamahno-us making, or some other amusement. From that time forward, 

 cooking goes on with very little interruption, on behalf of some member of 

 the family, until bed time. 



Names. — Names are given to childi'en when they begin to walk and 

 talk, and ai-e generally family appellations, though not in the first instance 

 that of the father, but rather that of the grandfather on either side, or, if 

 there are several, of the uncles. These are changed in after life ; sometimes 

 in honor of a deceased relative; sometimes in commemoration of an event. 

 On the death of an Indian, his name is not mentioned for a long time. If 

 spoken of, it is as "he that is dead"; but after some two or three years, 

 when the grief of his family is supposed to be assuaged, his son, perhaps, 

 summons his friends, gives a feast, and announces that he has taken his 

 father's name. On occasion of the council at Neeah Bay, an Indian named 

 Ko-bet-si, who received a commission as a sub-chief, changed his to Ko- 

 bakh-sat. At the Tsihalis council, An-nan-in-ta, the son of Tsinnite'h, a 

 former great chief of the Upper Tsihalis, announced that he had taken that 

 of his grandfather, Wa-kwin-nam. They are unwilling to speak their own 

 names ; a sentiment for which I was never able to obtain a reason. Nor do 

 they use names in calling one another. They attract attention by the word 

 " Do-teh ! " look here! if hailing a stranger, or if a friend, "Kug-weh-oh!" 

 you there ! Many, but not all their names, have signification, as Squu-shum, 

 smoke or fog, the name of a sub-chief of the Snokwalmuh. The termina- 

 tion kanan, common to all the tribes on the Sound, but to which they attach 



