478 



INDIAN TRIBES OF 



was not an object of worship, but was supposed to be endowed with 

 supernatural powers, and to exert them in many ways. On one 

 occasion, it is related that the wolf was desirous of having a wife, 

 and visited the tribe on the Spokane for that purpose, demanding a 

 young woman in marriage. This request being granted, he promised 

 that the salmon should be abundant, and for this purpose he raised 

 the rapids, that they might be caught with facility. After he had 

 been gratified in this first instance, he made the same request of the 

 others, among them, of the Sketsui (Coeur d'Alene) tribe, who were 

 the only ones to refuse ; he thereupon formed the great falls of the 

 Spokane, which have ever since prevented the fish from ascending to 

 their territory. 



Among the Flatheads they have names for the months, correspond- 

 ing to the lunations, which are connected with their habits, and the 

 climate. They are as follows, viz. : 



Sustiki, 





January. 



Squasus, 



cold, 



February. 



Skiniramen, 



a kind of herb, 



March. 



Skaputsi, 



snow gone, 



April. 



Spatylus, 



bitter root, 



May. 



Staqumauos, 



going to root ground. 



June. 



Itzwa, 



cammass-root. 



July. 



Sa antylku, I 

 Selamp, ) 



hot ; gathering brooms, 



August. 



Skelues, 



exhausted salmon, 



September, 



Skaii, 



dry moon. 



October. 



Kinui-etylyutiu, 



house-making, 



November. 



Kumakwala, 



snow moon. 



December. 



Of the more northern part of the Oregon Territory, through the 

 kindness of the ofl&cers of the Hudson Bay Company and residents, 

 I obtained much interesting information, little of which has, I 

 believe, been yet communicated to the public. I was as desirous 

 as Mr. Hale himself, that he should make a trip to the northern 

 posts of the Company, after our departure from the country, but 

 there were serious obstacles which prevented his doing so. Besides, 

 it would have caused him a detention of several months, or have 

 exposed him to an arduous journey during the depth of winter, 

 which he wisely determined to avoid. 



The operations of the Hudson Bay Company over the northern 

 portion of Oregon, which is included in their maps under the name 



