582 REPORT—1896. 
Dr.G. M. Dawson, ‘ Report of Progress, Geol. Surv. of Canada,’ 1878-79, 
Plates III., IV., and V.), generally has on each side of the central line 
three heavy beams which support the roof, the house of the Tsimshian 
and of the Kwakiutl has only one pair of heavy beams, one on each side 
of the doorway. In the Kwakiutl house these two beams, which rest on 
heavy posts, stand no more than 6 feet apart (see ‘ Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus.,’ 
1888, p. 210). In the houses of the Tsimshian and Nisk‘a’ they stand 
about halfway between the central line and the lateral walls. This 
arrangement necessitates that provision is made for a ridge-beam. The 
heavy beams B rest on the uprights U, which are seldom carved. On 
top of the beams four supports S are laid, on which rests the ridge- 
beam R. The latter consists of two parts, leaving a space in the middle for 
the smoke-hole. Sometimes, but not regularly, two additional beams R rest 
on these supports. In a few cases the central ridge-beam is then sup- 
ported by a smaller support 8’. The lower end of the roof is either 
arranged as shown in figs. 3 and 4, or as indicated in fig. 5. In the former 
Fig. 5. 
case the roof-supports are separate from the walls ; a beam V is laid on 
the uprights C, and the roof-boards rest on the beams R, B, and V. 
In the latter case (fig. 5) the corner-post P is connected with the rear 
corner-post by a square beam which supports the lower ends of the 
roof-boards. The walls of the old houses consist of horizontal planks of 
great width. The thick planks of the front, rear, and sides (figs. 4, 5) 
are grooved, and the thinner planks are let into these grooves. The two 
mouldings of the front are also thick planks, which are grooved. Over 
the door D is a short, heavy plank, on which rests a single thinner 
vertical plank. The construction of the back may be seen in fig. 3. 
Sometimes the houses are built on steep banks, so that only the rear 
half is built on the ground. In this case a foundation of heavy 
cedar-trees is built. A short log is placed with its end into the bank, the 
butt end standing out towards the beach, where the side wall is to be. 
Another log is placed in the same manner where the second side wall is 
