808 REPORT— 1889. 



examined a number of Bilqula who visited Berlin in the winter of 

 1885-86. This similarity is very marked among the Tlingit, Haida, 

 Tsimshian, Kwakiutl and JBilqula, to a less extent among the Nootka, while 

 the Coast Salish and the Salish of the interior show a different type. As 

 the Bilqula speak a language belonging to the Salish family, it must be 

 assumed that they acquired their distinct physical character through 

 intermixture with the neighbouring tribes. 



Many tribes of this region are in the habit of deforming the heads of 

 their children. I noticed three different methods of deformation. The 

 tribes of the northern part of Vancouver Island use circular bandages 

 by means of which the occiput acquires an extraordinary length. Ex- 

 cessively deformed heads of this kind are found on the northern part of 

 the west coast of Vancouver Island among the K'oski'mo. Farther south 

 a strong pressure is exerted upon the occiput, a bandage is laid around 

 the head immediately behind the coronal suture, and a soft cushion is 

 used for pressing down the forehead. The Flatheads proper compress 

 forehead and occiput by means of boards or hard cushions. It seems 

 that the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian never practised the custom of 

 head- flattening. It is unfortunate that no observations on the Tsimshian 

 of the upper Skeena River exist. Those at the mouth of the river have 

 frequently intermarried with the Tlingit, Haida, and Heiltsuk'. 



Among the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian and Heiltsuk' the custom pre- 

 vails of perforating the lower lips of the females. In these perforations, 

 which are enlarged with increasing age, labrets are worn, which are in 

 some instances as long as 40mm. and as wide as 20mm. The men of all 

 the coast tribes have the septum perforated, the operation being per- 

 formed in early childhood. Earrings are worn either in a series of per- 

 forations of the helix or in the lobe of the ear. 



Chiefs' daughters, among the Tsimshian, have the incisors ground 

 down to the gums by chewing a pebble of jade, the row of teeth thus 

 assuming an arched form. 



Among the Nootka scars may frequently be seen running at regular 

 intervals from the shoulder down the breast to the belly, and in the same 

 way down the legs and arms. Tattooings are found on arms, breast, back, 

 legs, and feet among the Haida ; on arms and feet among the Tsimshian, 

 Kwakiutl, and Bilqula ; on breast and arms among the Nootka ; on the 

 jaw among the Coast Salish women. 



Members of tribes practising the Hamats'a ceremonies (see p. 861) 

 show remarkable scars produced by biting. At certain festivals it is the 

 duty of the Hamats'a to bite a piece of flesh out of the arms, leg, or 

 breast of a man. 



The women of the Kwakiutl tribes wear very tight anklets, which 

 prevent free circulation between feet and legs. These anklets leave 

 lasting impressions. 



Before describing the general features of these tribes I give a table of 

 measurements. Unfortunately I was not in possession of a glissiere, and 

 therefore no great weight is attributed to the measures, which ought to 

 be made with that instrument. A T-square, to which a movable arm was 

 attached, was used as a substitute. The seven individuals, all male, were 

 measured in the jail at Victoi-ia, kind permission having been given by 

 Major Grant. I did not consider it advisable to make anthropometrical 

 measurements in the villages of the natives, as I feai'ed to rouse their 

 distrust, and had nowhere time to become well acquainted with them. It 



