11 
and the gulf are known collectively as Montagnais. Though 
divided into numerous local groups or tribes through this ex- 
tensive tract, their culture follows certain lines of similarity, 
forming two general types, that of the interior and that of the 
St. Lawrence coast. The art motives of both are fairly homo- 
geneous except that the characteristic etching on birch bark so 
prevalent among the interior divisons is practically absent on the 
coast, where birch bark is very scarce. The art techniques of 
moose hair embroidery and painting, however, were of common 
distribution, having given place in later times to beadwork, silk 
embroidery (the chain stitch),and a form of embroidery consisting 
of animal wool braid sewed upon leather or cloth to form designs. 
This braided woolen embroidery is quite intricate. Out of wool 
combed from the pelts of wild animals, threads are woven into 
cords in the manner shown in the accompanying sketch, as ana- 
lysed by Mr. W. C. Orchard (Fig. 14). This may be termed a 
double braid on a double thread foundation. 
Among the interior river and lake Montagnais, one of the 
richest fields of art lies in the already mentioned birch bark etch- 
ings. In this the designs are produced upon the surfaces of 
birch bark receptacles, baskets, etc., by scraping away the dark 
coating of the winter bark, leaving the light under surface as a 
background. The patterns consist of thin paper-bark stencils 
made by folding and biting designsin them with the teeth. 
These are tacked as patterns over the parts to be ornamented and 
scratched away round the edges. Examples of this work are 
shown (Plate IX), and also a set of designs copied from other 
specimens (Fig. 15 ). 
The former design types fall only in a very general way within 
the double-curve province. As will be observed, the motive is 
much obscured by the broad line figures and the spreading elevat- 
ed interiors. They are, however, very artistic. These figures 
are known among the people as trees, spruce or balsam, only in 
the most general indefinite way. They convey no symbolism 
so far as I have been able to learn. In the beadwork, silk and 
wool cord embroidery, floral patterns are most commonly em- 
ployed, the figures in general being known as wdpurwun' 
“flower”. In some examples, however, an animal realism creeps 
1,(Greek gamma) represents a velar sonant stop. 
