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ON THE ETHNOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. ols 
from where it joins the Fraser, that measures 59 feet from the posthole 
on one side to the corresponding hole on the other. These dwellings were 
usually inhabited by several families, more or less closely related to one 
another ; and in the very large ones sixty or seventy souls would often pass 
the winter together. Commonly there was but one fire in the centre, but 
if the weather was very cold smaller fires would be kindled near the four 
great supporting poles. Fires were also at times lighted here for culinary 
purposes, when many families inhabited the same house. The floors of 
these houses were kept covered with small fir branches, which were 
renewed about every three or four days. The entrance to these houses 
was through the smoke-hole in the roof, a notched tree which projected 
some way beyond the hole being used asa means of ascent and descent. 
The central space between the four supporting poles was common ground 
in the centre of which was the fire. Behind this, under the sloping 
roofs, each family or group had its own quarters. 
The summer dwellings were extremely simple, consisting merely of a 
framework of light poles covered with mats or wattled, and all cooking 
was done in the open air. The food supplies of the central N’tlaka’pamug 
were invariably stored in caches, i.c. holes in the ground, which were 
roofed with poles or boards, and then again covered with earth or sand. 
The food was commonly protected from the soil or sand by bark. Re- 
mains of these caches or cellars, with rolls of birch and other bark in 
them, may be seen at any of the old camp sites. Many such, now filled 
with sand to the level of the surrounding ground, are found at Tlk-umtci’n. 
In the lower division and elsewhere small sheds were erected on poles 
standing from 5 to 10 feet above the ground, to be out of the reach of dogs 
and other animals. As a rule these structures are found only where the 
ground is rocky, or of such a nature as makes excavations difficult or 
impossible, as along the Fraser Cafion above Yale. 
Hospitality. 
Hospitality was recognised as a virtue, and practised as a duty, among 
the N’tlaka’pamuag, and every one was constrained to offer the stranger or 
visitor the best he possessed. ! 
Customs. 
The N’tlaka‘pamug had many singular and superstitious customs and 
practices, some of which we may gather from their folk-tales. Some of 
these they still practise. For instance, when roots are to be baked, 
women only must do it. I could learn no satisfactory reason for this. 
The old-time training for young men has many interesting and unique 
features about it. Of these I learnt the following, none of which are any 
longer practised. In the days before the advent of the whites, when a 
youth wanted to fit himself to become a hardy hunter, he would go down 
to the river's edge at the close of the salmon run, when the carcasses of 
dead and maggot-filled salmon would be found lying along the banks in 
great numbers, and thrust his hands up to the wrists in the rotting, 
maggoty mass, and keep them there for hours together. This was said to 
harden them, so that they became impervious to the cold when out 
hunting in cold weather. They would do this many times in their late 
boyhood. Another method of attaining the same end was to lie down at 
; ' See the story of Snikia’p, &e., p, G51, 
1899, LL 
