IX. 



WAR AND PEACE. 



As a rule, the feuds between gentes, pliratries, and tribes in this re- 

 gion have originated from such causes as gambling quarrels, failure to 

 pay indemnity for wrongs done, or breaches of custom or etiquette, for 

 the observance of which all are great sticklers. Their wars have been 

 characterized by treachery, surprise, ambush, night attack, superior 

 numbers on the aggressive side, massacre of women and children, im- 

 pressment into slavery of the prisoners of war, and scalping of the 

 slain enemies. Fair fight, excepting in duels, seems to have been un- 

 known or unrecognized. The ceremonies attending both warlike and 

 peaceful demonstrations have always been of an elaborate character, 

 and, as has been pointed out, many of the existing elaborate ceremo- 

 nials, with the accompanying paraphernalia, are survivals of practices 

 originating in war. Since the military occupation of Alaska by our 

 Government, and the suppression of slavery throughout the north- 

 west coast, Indian wars have practically ceased; and, in describing the 

 l^ractices of war, it becomes necessary to speak in the past tense. 



WAR CUSTOMS. 



In preparation for war the men painted the body, powdered the hair 

 with eagle's down, and got themselves up in the most hideous attire. 

 The wooden masks, helmets, and armor were carried in the war 

 canoes, ready to be put on for an encounter ; and the war parties con- 

 sisted usually of both freemen and slaves. The war canoes were gen- 

 erally steered by some old crone whose courage and influence had been 

 found oftentimes to be of the greatest incitement to the warriors. 

 From various accounts, it would appear that, in early times, when two 

 hostile canoe parties met accidentally, preparations for the encounter 

 consisted in putting on the masks and war garments, throwing over- 

 board the dogs, and cautious advance, accompanied by songs, men- 

 acing speeches, and gestures. Arrows, missiles, and even bullets 

 (after the introduction of fire-arms) were avoided by gently heeling the 

 canoe and interposing its gunwale as a protection. In an encounter, 

 the victorious usually slaughtered their opponents, scalped them, and 

 cut off their heads, either sticking up the latter on poles to grace their 

 triumph or carrying them off to prevent the friends of the deceased 

 from recovering them. In the first encounter of the Russian com- 

 manders Lisiansky and Baranoff with the Sitka Indians, in 1804, the 

 latter remained in possessioii of the battle-field, and the bodies of the 



340 



