THE INTERIOR OF OREGON. 491 



ground, which they cover with earth, leaving only an aperture in 

 the roof, which serves both as an entrance for themselves, and as a 

 vent for the smoke. 



They live chiefly upon salmon, although there are some other 

 kinds of fish which they take. They obtain by hunting, a few deer, 

 bears, and some smaller animals, which they eat or sell. Great 

 numbers of wild-fowl, which, at times, almost cover their rivers and 

 lakes, are captured by them. 



They all prefer their meat putrid, and frequently keep it until it 

 smells so strong as to be disgusting. Parts of the salmon they bury 

 under ground for two or three months to putrefy, and the more it is 

 decayed the greater delicacy they consider it. 



Like the rest of the Indian tribes, they have their own peculiar 

 manner of taking the fish, which is quite ingenious. For this pur- 

 pose they build a weir across the stream, having an opening only in 

 one place, at which they affix a basket three feet in diameter, with 

 the mouth made somewhat like that of an eel-trap, through which 

 alone the fish can find a passage. On the side of this basket is a 

 hole, to which is attached a smaller basket, into which the fish pass 

 from the large one, and cannot return or escape. Tliis is soon filled, 

 and becomes closely packed by their rushing into it, when it is taken 

 up and replaced without disturbing the larger one. 



They have some kind of roots or vegetable food, which, with the 

 berries, are formed into cakes. They are exceedingly fond of oils, 

 and drink large quantities of them, which they procure from fish, 

 bears, &c. These they also use outwardly, mixed with coloured 

 pigments. 



The most remarkable custom of these Indians that was related to 

 me, is the manner in which they conduct their funeral rites. If a 

 man dies leaving a widow, she is subject to undergo an ordeal, per- 

 haps as severe as any of the savage practices that prevail elsewhere 

 on a similar occasion. The corpse is always burned : the funeral- 

 pile is built and the body placed upon it, and while the fire is lighting, 

 the widow is compelled by the relations of the deceased to lie on it 

 until the heat becomes intolerable ; and if she attempts to break out, 

 they not unfrequently thrust her back, when she is often severely 

 burned. At other times she is obliged to pat the breast of her hus- 

 band until it is consumed, by which she suffers, and not unfrequently 

 falls into the flames without receiving any assistance from the by- 

 standers. After the body is consumed, she is obliged to collect the 



VOL. IV. 121 



