THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 47 



Their ornaments consist mainly of the head and ear decorations worn by young 

 girls, and of pieces of variegated shell inserted in their noses and ears. The 

 first are made of the Dentalium, which is procured by barter with the Nootkan 

 and other Indians of Vancouver Island. The shape of these ornaments is 

 shown in Fig. 3, the shells being run on strings separated by pieces of leather, 

 and so arranged as to form a fillet to surround the head. The shells, in the ear 

 ornaments, generally have their tapering or small end up. These last are usually 

 finished off with a quantity of glass beads of various sizes, shapes, and colors. 

 They are not, however, attached to the head ornament, as shown in the drawing, 

 unless they are very heavy ; but usually tied to the ear, which is pierced all round 

 the edge with holes, into which the strings are inserted. When the ornaments are 

 laid aside, these holes in the ear usually have a piece of twine tied in them, and 

 sometimes brass buttons are attached to the twine. This head ornament is 

 very pretty, and when a squaw is in full dress she has quite a picturesque appear- 

 ance. The shell ornaments for the nose are made of the Haliotis, which is pro- 

 cured on Vancouver Island. The largest specimens I have seen came from the 

 Cowitchan district, on the eastern side ; smaller ones are found at Clyoquot and 

 Nootka. The pieces worn in the nose are of various shapes, circular, oval, or 

 triangular, and hang pendent by means of a string ; others are cut in the form of 

 rings, with a small opening on one side, so they can be inserted or removed at 

 pleasure ; the size varies from a dime to a quarter of a dollar. Some of the ear 

 ornaments, however, and particularly those worn by children, are much larger — not 

 unfrequently two inches square. These are fastened to the rim of the ear by strings; 

 they are not very attractive ornaments, as they serve to give the wearer a very savage 

 appearance. Bracelets are made of brass wire, bent to the form of the wrist ; some 

 are rudely ornamented by notches filed in them, but most of them are plain. Finger 

 rings are manufactured out of silver coin by first beating it flat, and then cutting it 

 into strips, which are bent into a circular form and smoothed. The ends are not 

 joined together, probably from the fact that they do not understand the art of 

 brazing ; although among the Haida and Chimsyan tribes the art of working in 

 precious metals has attained a considerable degree of perfection. 



Bows AND Arrows, Fish, and Bird-spears. — The bow is usually made from yew, 

 and bent in the form shown in Fig. 33 ; but many are straight, simply acquiring a 



Fiff. 33. 



-^^^m^m- 



curved form when bent for use. Those that are made with care have usually a lock 

 of hair fastened to the middle by means of a strip of bark wound around it. The 

 string is made of whale sinews or seal gut, and is very strong. Inferior bows are 

 made of a species of dog-wood which grows around Neeah Bay. This wood is 

 white and tough, and also makes excellent hoops for barrels. The bow is used 



