140 • PKOCEKDINGS OF THE CAXADIAN INSTITUTE. 



gines used only loose pieces of the Hint, which were collected for or 

 by the notables, and then handed to the village arrow-smith for 

 i-eduction to the required size and shape, and, as a finishing process, 

 the edges were generally sharpened l)y friction on a hai-d stone. 



However, the only really polished stone implement of Dene manu- 

 facture was the ecellt or " casse tete " of which figui-e 13 will give an 

 idea. The specimen thereby illustrated is of a hard granite stone, 

 A variety of that weapon, similar in form, but more elongated (being 

 at least twice as long) was usually made of cariboo horn. 



Apart from the common arrows, the Carriers made use of two 

 other varieties of missiles of Sekanais origin. Both kinds were made 

 from Cariboo horns. Tiie first of these called kacho&nkwcelh (cut 

 arrow) by the Carriers, was awl-like in form and not less than six 

 inches in length. The broader exti-emity thereof was hollowed out 

 to receive a wooden shaft which served to dart it off from the bow 

 like a common arrow, with this difference however that, when in 

 motion, the horn point detached itself from the shaft. This projectile 

 was deadly and intended only for use against an enemy or for killing 

 lai'ge game. To shoot smaller game such as grouse, rabbits, etc., 

 they had recourse to a curiously wrought tiiple arrow fastened to the 

 shaft similar to that delineated in figirre 1 4. 



As defensive weapons they used two kinds of armours and a shield. 

 The latter was oval in form like the Roman clypeus and generally 

 made of closely interwoven branches of Amelauchier alnifolia. They 

 gave it the name of kelatlunn (that which is held with the hand). 



While on the war-path, they also wore a kind of armour or cuirass 

 consisting of dried sticks of the same kind of wood, arranged in 

 parallel order and kept together with babiche lines interlaced in 

 sevei'al places. This was common to the Kaidahs and other coast 

 Indians. Another sort of armour, indigenous to the Dend nation, 

 was the peo'sta (wherein one sits). This had the form of a sleeveless 

 tunic falling to the knees so that it aftbrded protection to the whole 

 body save the head : — in hard fights the Dends invariably shot kneel- 

 ing. The armour or cuirass was of moose skin which, when sewn, 

 according to the proper pattern, was soaked in water, then repeatedly 



