10 THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 



artist as the Cha-tic of Clyoquot. In the masks I painted, I simply endeavored 

 to form as hideous a mixture of colors as I could conceive, and in this I again 

 gave satisfaction. 



I have noticed in Indian paintings executed by the northern tribes, particularly 

 the Chimsyan, Haida, and others north of Vancouver Island, a very great resem- 

 blance in style to that adopted by the coast Indians. Whether or not these tribes 

 have any legend connected with their pictures I have no means of ascertaining. 

 There are, however, but very few persons among the coast Indians who are recog- 

 nized as painters, and those that I have met with, either could not or would not 

 give me any explanation. My object in painting for them was to find out if they 

 really had any historical or mythological ideas which they wished to have represented, 

 and I have invariably inquired on "every occasion; but I never could get any other 

 information than that they wished me to paint something the other Indians could not 

 understand. I am satisfied, so far as this tribe is concerned, that, with the excep- 

 tion of the thunder-bird drawing, all their pictures and drawings are nothing 

 more than fancy work, or an attempt to copy some of the designs of the more 

 northern tribes ; and as they have always evinced a readiness to explain to me 

 whatever had significance, I have no alternative but to believe them when they 

 say that they attach no particular meaning to their paintings. 



Social Life. — The Makahs, in common with all the coast tribes, hold slaves. 

 These were formerly procured by making captives of the children or adults of any 

 other tribes with whom they might be at variance. But latterly, since the advent 

 of the whites, they have obtained their slaves mostly by purchase from their 

 neighbors on Vancouver Island, or those further up the Strait of Fuca. Children 

 seem in aU cases to be preferred, because they are cheaper, and are less likely to 

 escape than adults. The price varies, according to age, from fifty to one hundred 

 blankets. These slaves are for the most part well treated, and, but for the fact 

 that they can be bought and sold, appear to be on terms of equality with their 

 owners, although there are instances where they have received rather harsh usage. 

 In case one is killed by his master, which occasionally happens, no notice is taken 

 of the occun-ence by the rest of the tribe. Many of the men who were born of 

 slave parents, and have resided all their lives with the tribe, have purchased their 

 freedom; while others, who were bought, when children, from other tribes, have 

 regained their liberty as soon as they have grown up, by making their escape. 

 In fact the only slaves who are sure to remain are those who are born in the tribe ; 

 all others wiU run away whenever a safe opportunity presents to enable them to 

 get back to their relatives. In former times, it is said, the slaves were treated 

 very harshly, and their lives were of no more value than those of dogs. On the 

 death of a chief, his favorite slaves were killed and buried Avith him, but latterly, 

 this custom seems to have been abandoned, and their present condition is a mild 

 kind of servitude. The treaty between the United States and the Makahs makes 

 it obligatory on this tribe to free their slaves, and although this provision has not 

 thus far been enforced, it has had the effect of securing to the latter better treatment 

 than they formerly had. Instances are not rare where a master has married his 

 slave woman, and a mistress has taken her slave man as her husband. The children 



