THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 45 



Mats, Baskets, Ornaments, &c. — Mats constitute one of the principal manufac- 

 tures of the females during the winter months. With the Makahs, cjedar bark is 

 the only material used. Other tribes, who can obtain bulrushes and flags, make 

 their mats of these plants, which, however, do not grow in the vicinity of Cape 

 Flattery. Cedar bark, which constitutes an important item in their domestic 

 economy, is prepared by first removing the outer bark from young trees, then 

 peeling the inner bark off in long strips, which are dried in the sun, folded in a 

 compact form, and used as articles of trade or barter. When wanted for use, if for 

 making mats, the strips are split into strands varying from an eighth to a quarter 

 of an inch in width, and as thick as stout wrapping-paper. These are then neatly 

 woven together, so as to form a mat six feet long by three wide. Formerly mats 

 were used as canoe sails, but at present they are employed for wrappmg up 

 blankets, for protecting the cargoes in canoes, and for sale to the whites, who use 

 them as lining of rooms, or as floor coverings. Baskets for various uses are also 

 made of this bark ; but, as it is not very strong, those used for carrying burdens 

 are made from spruce roots. 



The bark is reduced to fine fibres by being broken across the edge of a paddle, 

 and, when perfectly prepared in this way, is put to a variety of uses. It serves to 

 make the beds of infants, for gun-wadding, as a substitute for towels, and for 

 gambling in the game of la-hull. It is often dyed red with alder bark, and worn 

 like a turban around the head during tamanawas performances. In the mat 

 manufacture some is dyed black by soaking it in mud, and woven in as a sort of 

 ornament around the edge, or as the dividing line across the centre. The Kwille- 

 yute tribe manufacture very neat mats of a species of coarse grass, and excellent 

 baskets from ash, which grows upon the banks of the river. These are common 

 among the Makahs, being received in the way of trade. 



Conical-shaped hats are made of spruce roots split into fine fibres, and plaited 

 so as to be impervious to water. They are very ingeniously manufactured, and it 

 requires some skiU and experience to make one nicely. These hats are painted 

 with rude devices on the outside, the colors being a black 

 ground with red figures. The black is produced by grind- 

 ing a piece of bituminous coal with salmon eggs, which have 

 been chewed and spit on a stone ; the red, by a mixture of 

 vermilion and chewed salmon eggs. These eggs, after 

 having been first dried, form a glutinous substance when 

 chewed, which easily mixes with the colors, and forms a 

 paint that dries readUy and is very durable. The designs 



are drawn with brushes made of sticks, with the ends chewed. Some Indians, how- 

 ever, use brushes or pencils of human hair for these designs as well as those on 

 the miniature canoes ; but the most common brush is simply a stick. The process, 

 with these rude implements, is very slow. 



Beside the conical hats worn by themselves, they have also, of late years, manufac- 

 tured hats which they sell to the white men. These are shaped like the common 

 straw hat, and are made of spruce roots, and, although rather heavy, are strong 

 and durable. Some have designs of various kinds woven in them, while others 



