594. REPORT—1890. 
particularly salmon. On the fourth day after her first menses she puts 
on a peculiar head-ornament, which she must wear during each of her 
first eight menses for four days. During these months she must eat by 
herself, and use a cup and dish of herown. These latter regulations 
have to be observed by all women during menstruation. After reaching 
maturity girls must bathe regularly inthe woods. They are forbidden to 
bathe near the village where the men might happen to pass by. 
The marriage ceremonies have been so well described by Sproat that 
I confine myself to giving a few additional data, referring to the marriage 
of persons of the rank of chiefs. When a young man wishes to marry a 
certain girl his father sends messengers to the girl’s father to ask his 
consent. At first it is not given, and the messengers are sent again and 
again, until the consent of the girl’s father is obtained. The messengers 
do not enter the house of the latter, but deliver their message outside the 
door. At last the girl’s father consents, and then the messengers plant 
a staff into the ground close to the door. A blanket is wrapped around 
the staff, which is made to represent a wolf, a bird, or aman. Bird’s 
down is strewn on the top of the figure. On the following day the 
girl’s father sends back this figure with a large quantity of food, and the 
message that the young man may come and marry his daughter. The 
young man’s father invites all his relatives, and gives a feast of the food 
sent by the girl’s father. On the same night whistles imitating wolves’ 
voices are blown in the houses and on the street. I do not know 
whether the origin of these whistles is kept a secret from the people, but 
think it probable that only the members of the Tlokoa'la (see below) 
know about it. On the following morning a platform is built by cover- 
ing two boats with planks. The young men of the groom’s family 
paddle away from the shore and then return dancing. The groom him- 
self dances in the mask and dress of the thunder-bird, one of his relatives 
in that of a whale. All the dancers are painted, and have their hair 
strewn with feathers. They land, and a man dressed up like a wolf is 
the first to go ashore. A number of men carrying blankets follow him. 
When the groom’s party is heard to approach, the bride’s father calls 
upon a number of strong men from among his family, and places them in 
front of his house. When the other party arrives and prepares to enter 
the house the opposite party drives them back. This is done four times. 
Then they are allowed to enter; the leader throws down the wolf’s mask 
in the house of the bride’s father, and the blankets which his followers 
carry are piled up on top of it. The bride’s friends next prepare games, 
which are played out of doors, weather permitting ; else they are held 
indoors. First, twelve men stand in two rows of six each, one opposite 
the other. They carry torches of bundles of cedar-bark, so that there 
is a narrow lane left between the lights of the opposite rows. The 
groom’s father and one or two of his uncles must pass through this lane. 
Next two long poles are tied together at their points, and put up verti- 
cally. A pulley is attached to the joint, a thin rope is passed through it, 
and a small carved wooden whale is suspended from it. The feet of the 
two poles stand about six feet apart, and the joint is about twelve feet 
high. The carved figure hangs so high that it requires a good jump to 
reach it. One of the bride’s relatives holds the free end of the line 
attached to the carved figure. The groom’s relatives try to catch the 
carved figure, which, however, is pulled up by the man holding the rope 
as soon as anyone tries to take hold of it. The man who finally succeeds 
