THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 



21 



canoes join in the attack, it is not unnsual for from thirty to forty of these buoys 

 to be made fast to the whale, which, of course, cannot sink, and is easily despatched 

 . by their spears and lances. The buoys are fastened together by means of a stout 

 line made of spruce roots, first slightly roasted in hot ashes, then split with knives 

 into fine fibres, and finally twisted into ropes, which are very strong and durable. 

 These ropes are also used for towing the dead whale to the shore. The harpoon- 

 head is called kwe-kaptl ; the barbs, tsa-kwat ; the blade, kut-s6-Avit ; the lanyard 

 attached to the head, kluks-ko ; the loop at the end of the lanyard, kle-tait-lish ; 

 the staff of the harpoon, du-p6i-ak; the buoy, dopt-ko-kuptl, and the buoy-rope, 

 tsis-ka-pub. 



Whaling paddle. 



A whaling canoe invariably carries eight men :' one in the bow, who is the har- 

 pooner, one in the stern to steer, and six to paddle. The canoe is divided by sticks, 

 which serve as stretchers or thwarts, into six spaces, named as follows : the boAV, 

 he-tuk-wad ; the space immediately behind, ka-kai-woks ; centre of canoe, cha- 

 t'hluk-dos ; next space, he-stuk'-stas ; stern, kli-cha. This canoe is called pa-dau-t'hl. 

 A canoe that carries six persons, or one of me'dium size, is called bo-kwis'-tat ; a 

 smaller size, a-tlis-tat ; and very small ones for fishing, te-ka-au-da. 



When whales are in sight, and one or more canoes have put off in pursuit, it is 

 usual for some one to be on the look-out from a high position, so that in case a 

 whale is struck, a signal can be given and other canoes go to assist. When the 

 whale is dead, it is towed ashore to the most convenient spot, if possible to one 

 of the villages, and hauled as high on the beach as it can be floated. As soon as 

 the tide recedes, all hands swarm around the carcass with their knives, and in a 

 very short time the blubber is stripped off in blocks about two feet square. The 

 portion of blubber forming a saddle, taken from between the head and dorsal fin, is 

 esteemed the most choice, and is always the property of the person who first strikes 

 the whale. The other portions are distributed according to rule, each man know- 

 ing what he is to receive. The saddle is termed u-butsk. It is placed across a 

 pole supported by two stout posts. At each end of the pole are hung the harpoons 

 and lines with which the whale was killed. Next to the blubber at each end are 

 the whale's eyes ; eagle's feathers are stuck in a row along the top, a bunch of 



