ON fHE ETHNOLOGIGAL SURVEY OF CANADA, 505 
The N’tlaka/pamug apparently never used masks of any kind at their 
dances, such paraphernalia being quite unknown to them. 
Puberty customs seem to have been much simpler among the N’tlaka’- 
pamug than among other tribes. All I could gather concerning them 
was that when a girl arrived at puberty she must withdraw herself from 
her family for a time and live apart by herself. I could not gather that 
any particular course of life was prescribed for the occasion, or that she 
was forbidden to eat certain kinds of food. It would appear that their 
whole lives were much simpler and more natural than those of their con- 
geners elsewhere. We see this in their marriage customs, for instance, 
which are simple compared with those of other tribes, or even with those 
of the ‘Stalo’ or River Indians below them. 
Marriage Customs. , 
When a youth arrived at marriageable age he generally had a maiden 
in his eye whom he wished for wife. He would first put himself in her 
way and they would stroll out together. He would next send her little 
presents from time to time. If she was not averse to his suit she would 
accept these ; if otherwise she would refuse them. If his gifts were ac- 
cepted he would then declare his liking for her, and tell her he would give 
her a year to make up her mind in the matter. If things went. smoothly 
: during this period, at the end of the time he would then send a present by 
a friendly elder of his family to the girl’s parents. If they accept the 
__ present they call together the relatives and friends of the family, who dis- 
cuss the subject ; and if the young man is acceptable to the majority of 
them, the girl’s father takes an elk-hide, cuts it into strips of useful 
lengths, and gives each one present apiece. This witnesses to their agree- 
ment. After this has been done one of the old men of the girl’s family 
goes to the young man and informs him that his suit is acceptable to the 
family, and that he may have the girl for wife. Supposing that a majority 
of the family be against him his present is returned and he is notified as 
before that he cannot have the girl, and must look elsewhere for a wife. 
When he has been accepted the bridegroom goes the day following to the 
girl’s home, accompanied by all his friends and relations, who carry food 
and other gifts with them. A feast is prepared from this food, the gifts 
are distributed, and a general good time is indulged in. After the meal 
is over the old people declare themselves satisfied with the arrangements 
in a loud voice. The young man and his bride are now man and wife, 
and share the same blanket that night. Next day the girl returns with 
her husband to his home, and some days later her parents and relatives 
come and pay them a return visit, bringing with them also food and gifts. 
A second feast is then prepared, the gifts are distributed, and all partake 
of the food as before. This concludes the marriage ceremony, the pair 
after this being regarded as man and wife by the whole community. A 
man was free to marry whom he might outside of his own family. 
Shamanism. 
_Shamanism was prevalent among the N’tlaka’pamug. This we can 
gather readily enough from their stories, and certain spots and localities 
are pointed out by the older Indians as the places where certain celebrated 
Shamans underwent their fasts and training to gain their powers. There 
are several such spots on the banks of Stain Creek, a mountain 
‘ stream 
