THE INDIANS OF THE NORTHWEST COAST. 239 



In the approach to political and industrial equality of the sexes, 

 and in the respect shown for the opinions of their females, these 

 Indians furnish another refutation of the old misconception concerning 

 the systematic mal-treatment of the women by savages. Such a thing 

 is incompatible with the laws of nature. Good treatment of the female 

 is essential to the preservation of the species, and it will be found that 

 this ill-treatment is more apparent than real. 



By nature they are rather indolent, but their love of the power and 

 the display incident to wealth has changed their disposition since 1775, 

 so that they have become more enterprising. Originally the chiefs 

 conducted the trade of the tribe, but in time the natural abilities of 

 the other sex in driving bargains has resulted in the predominance 

 of the influence of the women in such matters. 



They endeavor to impress others with their importance, wealth, and 

 powers, but are guarded in their expressions of wonder, surprise, or 

 enjoyment at what they see elsewhere. They have come now to rely 

 upon European medicines in sickness. When through carelessness, 

 recklessness, and ignorance of the laws of health they come to grief, 

 they incontinently dose themselves with all sorts of patent medicines 

 which they buy from the traders. 



Missionaries have been comparatively successful amongst them, the 

 Greek and Presbyterian Churches having made considerable progress 

 with them. The opportunities for long addresses, prayers, experience 

 meetings, and singing in some of the Protestant forms of worship ap- 

 peal strongly to native predilections, the influence of the Greek Church 

 being principally about Sitka. The missionaries, however, discourage 

 their dancing, and have influenced them in many localities to cut down 

 the totemic columns and abandon cremation for inhumation-at-length 

 as practiced by the whites. 



INTELLECTUAL CHARACTERISTICS. 



One sees many strikingly intelligent and attractive faces amongst 

 the older men and women, where experience has given decided char- 

 acter to their expressions. The stolid, imperturbable moodiness attrib- 

 uted to the Indians of the interior here gives place to a more alert ex- 

 pression of countenance. They acquire knowledge readily, and the 

 children at school make fair progress. They are quite ingenious, and 

 especially handy with tools, picking up a trade with surprising readi- 

 ness, and turning their hands to almost any sort of business. They 

 are quite imitative and progressive, but have shown good sense and 

 conservatism in retaining many native implements and methods where 

 better adapted to their needs. They have a keen appreciation of the 

 value of money, work for wages, and have considerable business judg- 

 ment. It would seem that, with their ideas of acquiring wealth, we 

 have little to teach them in habits of thrift. Of necessity, they have a 

 good knowledge of the topography and hydrography of their region, 



