ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 459 



of contact with a corpse. He washed the body, painted it red, put on 

 the bracelets and other ornaments of the deceased, doubled it up, so that 

 the knees touched the chin, and wrapped it in blankets or mats. A 

 young mau must not do this work, as he would die soon. When the 

 deceased had been a chief or a personage of importance, all the neigh- 

 bouring tribes were invited to take part in the following ceremonies. 

 After they had assembled, the wife of the chief mourner gave each water 

 to wash his face. Then the guests were given a feast, and on the follow- 

 ing day the corpse was placed in a canoe and removed to the burial-ground, 

 where it was deposited not far from the scaffold which served for the final 

 burial. The guests returned to the house, and were given again water to 

 wash their faces. For four days the body was left standing, that the 

 dead might be able to return in case he should resuscitate. Then, on 

 the fifth day, before sunrise, and before partaking of any food, the 

 mourners and guests returned to the burial-ground. If the deceased 

 owned the Sqoa'eqoe, the latter was carried there by an old man, who 

 received payment for this service. Slaves, blankets, and other property of 

 the deceased were taken along. Fonr old men put the body into the 

 house. They must fast until late in the evening, when the chief mourner 

 gave a feast. The slaves were killed and placed on top of the burial- 

 house, where the blankets were also deposited. Other objects were tied 

 to branches of trees near the burial-ground. Only those objects which the 

 deceased valued most highly were placed in the house. It is stated that 

 the people were allowed to take away all those objects which were 

 deposited near the box. In the evening of the same day the chief 

 mourner gave a feast, during which everything was burned that belonged 

 to the deceased. An old man threw the objects into the fire. The 

 guests were presented with blankets, and returned home. If the 

 deceased was a chief, his son fasted and bathed in ponds on the mountains, 

 until he believed that he had seen a spirit which gave him supernatural 

 powers. Then he began to collect property. When he had gathered a 

 large amount, he invited all the neighbouring tribes, and gave a feast 

 which lasted for four days. Then he selected two old men, who had to 

 tell the people that he was going to assume his father's name. The 

 young man, with his wife and children, stood on the scaffold in frotit of 

 their house, and while the woman and children were dancing there, the 

 old men delivered orations, and the young chief distributed blankets 

 among his guests, throwing the blankets down from the scaffold. 



It does not appear that it is forbidden to mention the names of 

 deceased persons. 



The burial customs of the Lillooet are somewhat different. I was 

 told that the dead are placed ' so that their backo never turn toward the 

 sun.' They are laid on their left sides, the head westward, the face 

 southward. Old men are hired to paint the face of the deceased, and 

 they deposit the body in a cave as described before. The weapons and 

 implements used by the deceased are buried near the grave, but his 

 friends are said to be permitted to keep some of his implements, provided 

 the son consents. 



Hunting and Fishing. 



Man and all animals which are hunted are considered one greafc 

 family. The porcupine is called the eldest brother, and is considered the 

 strongest. Next in rank is the beaver, third the ts'etspet (?), fourth 



