824 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



picture-writing upon rocks has-been attributed to them, they 

 have marked artistic ability, and exhibit their skill in ornamen- 

 tation upon articles of dress and the implements of the chase. 

 Indians who had had no instruction in drawing from the whites, 

 employed by Dr. Chamberlain to make a series of drawings, 

 drafted very good maps of their country, and seemed to have well 

 grasped the idea of their work. Some of them were also able to 

 recognize with ease the various physical features prominent in 

 the printed maps of the Kootenay district. Their drawings of 

 weapons, implements, etc., were excellent, and those of one of 

 them in particular would never be suspected of being the product 

 of aboriginal genius. "Pictures of houses, railway trains, etc., 

 have a certain conventionality that is characteristic of savage 

 races. Several of the Indians were able to draw an excellent and 

 easily recognizable picture of the little steamboat that plied up 

 and down the Columbia River. In their drawings of human be- 

 ings, especial stress is laid upon the distinguishing features, and 

 any peculiarity or abnormity is brought out with full force. 

 Thus, a Stony Indian woman has no nose, a Chinaman has an im- 

 mense single braid of hair, a white man an enormous beard, a 

 certain Indian a colossal nose, and the like." 



They have fourteen distinct names for colors, and their horses 

 may be white, black, half white and half black, roan, " buckskin," 

 " blue," sorrel, or mouse-colored. 



The social position of women is not greatly different from 

 that among the other surrounding tribes. Girls may be mar- 

 ried at fifteen and young men at twenty years of age. In the 

 olden times the young Indian wishing to marry " went at night 

 to the lodge where slept the object of his affections, and, quietly 

 lifting up the blankets to make sure, lay down beside her. The 

 girl's people soon found him there, and threats were made. The 

 young man's father meanwhile inquired where his son was, and, 

 on being told that he was in such-and-such a lodge, went thither 

 with his friends and discovered the young people together. The 

 girl then left and went with her husband to his own people. He 

 was at liberty to send his wife back to her relatives within a year 

 if she turned out to be bad or he was dissatisfied with her. When 

 guilty of adultery she was punished by having one of her braids 

 cut off by her husband." Descent seems to be traced through the 

 mother. 



Private property in land was unknown, the country belonging 

 to the tribe collectively ; and demands for money are still made 

 by the Lower Kootenays from any stranger intruding upon their 

 domain. The hunter had no absolute right in his game, and it 

 was distributed among the camp in order that all might have 

 food. Women could hold property as well as men. The horses 



