20 



THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 



lanyard is made of whale's sinews twisted into a rope about an inch and a half in 

 circumference, and covered with twine wound around it very tightly, called by sailors 

 " serving." The rope is exceedingly strong and very pliable. . 



Harpoon point (kwe-kahptl) and line. a. Blade, b. Barbs. 



The harpoon-head is a flat piece of iron or copper, usually a saw-blade or a piece 

 of sheet copper, to which a couple of barbs made of elk's or deer's horn are secured, 

 and the whole covered with a coating of spruce gum. The staff is made of yew in 

 two pieces, which are joined in the middle by a very neat scarph, firmly secured 

 by a narrow strip of bark wound around it very tightly. I do not know why these 

 staves or handles are not made of one piece ; it may be that the yew does not 

 grow sufficiently straight to afford the required length ; but I have never seen a staff 

 that was not constructed as here described. The length is eighteen feet ; thickest 

 in the centre, where it is joined together, and tapering thence to both ends. To 

 be used, the staff is inserted into the barbed head, and the end of the lanyard 

 made fast to a buoy, which is simply a seal-skin taken from the animal whole, the 

 hair being left inwards. The apertures of the head, feet, and tail are tied up air- 

 tight, and the skin inflated like a bladder. 



Fig. 5. 



Seal skin buoy (Do-ko kup-tl). 



When the harpoon is driven into a whale the barb and buoy remain fastened to 

 him, but the staff comes out, and is taken into the canoe. The harpoon which is 

 thrown into the head of the whale has but one buoy attached ; but those throAvn into 

 the body have as many as can be conveniently tied on ; and, when a number of 



