404 REPORT — 1902. 



at the same place and floated about on the water. It was death to any 

 person now to look upon him unless healed by himself. Not far from 

 where he was his parents and sister were fishing. The latter presently came 

 by, saw him, and straightway fell sick. He then left the water and 

 went to her and healed her. They then went home together. When 

 his parents saw him they too fell sick, but he healed them also. 

 And so it was with all who came in contact with him. All fell sick 

 becau.se he was sla'lakum, for whoever looked upon a being of this kind 

 became sick unto death. He healed them all so that no one died because of 

 him. Shortly after he sent his sister to the lake to fish, and bade her use 

 feathers for bait, and not to be frightened at anything she heard or saw. 

 She did as he bade her and threw in her line, and presently felt that 

 the bait had been seized. She drew in the line, and the water people 

 came up to the surface wearing the sqoi'aql and using the rattle. They 

 danced for a while, and then presented her with the sqoi'aql and cilmu' qtcis. 

 After this they descended again, and she went home with her gifts. Her 

 mother then made a skdiim (big basket) in which the girl put away her 

 presents. At her marriage she was given the sqoi'aql and rattle. 



This incident is said to have happened at the village of Tllceltii'litc, a 

 little above Hope. It is noteworthy, however, that somewhat different 

 origins are given by other tribes to the Sqoi'aql and Cilmu'qtcis. 



Movtuari/ Customs. 



As the Pila'tlq have been under missionary influences for a number of 

 years most of their old customs have been given up or much modified. In 

 burying their dead they now wholly adhere to the customs of their white 

 neighbours, but formerly they disposed of tbem in the following manner. 

 Immediately upon the breath leaving the body the spoldkav'tsa (corpse) 

 was carried out of the house and washed in warm or cold water. Usually 

 four men performed this task, and while they were engaged in their work, 

 if the deceased or his relatives were people of i-ank and wealth, the sqoi'aql 

 would be hired to dance the ts'qdte'l, or ' wash-down dance.' After the 

 corpse had been washed it was painted red ; the hair was then smeared with 

 grease, and a quantity of eagle-down was spread upon it. The body was then 

 doubled up and wrapped in blankets, and the sqoi'aql performed another 

 dance. After this it was conveyed to the burial grounds and deposited in 

 the family coffin. This receptacle was a large box capable of holding the 

 remains of sevei-al persons. In the case of chiefs or wealthy persons figures 

 of animals or birds were carved upon it. After the sjwlrJkwe'tsa was laid 

 away the sqoi'aql gave another dance and the mourning began, and the 

 funeral party returned to the village. Four days later all the mourners 

 took a bath, and a feast was then held if the relatives of the deceased were 

 people of rank and wealth, and many presents were distributed. Everyone 

 received something. Nothing of the dead man's personal belonging was 

 kept, and if the presents were not enough to go round among those 

 assembled his brother or other relatives supplied what was needed. The 

 object of disposing of everything that belonged to the deceased, I was 

 informed, was that the survivors should not be reminded of their loss by 

 the sight of them. Occasionally a wife mourning the death of her 

 husband would set aside and store away some garment belonging to him, 

 and in after years, when she harl amassed much property, she would hold 

 a -Treat feaat and give it all away. During the feast she M-ould bring 



