482 INDIAN TRIBES OF 



ashes and deposit them in a small basket, which she must always 

 carry about with her. She afterwards becomes the servant or slave 

 of his relations, who exact of her the severest labour, and treat her 

 with every indignity. This lasts for two or three years, at the end 

 of which time a grand feast is given by the relatives, when the ashes 

 are put into a box, which is placed on a post ten feet high, daubed 

 with representations of animals, men, &c. ; there they are allowed 

 to remain until the post decays. The widow is now released from 

 servitude, and is at liberty to marry again. 



This tribe, like the others, has priests or medicine-men, who prac- 

 tise incantations. When a body is burned, the priest pretends to 

 receive the spirit of the deceased into his hands, which he closes 

 with many gesticulations. This spirit he is thought to be able to 

 communicate to others living, and when he has selected the person, 

 he throws his hands towards him, and at the same time blows upon 

 him, after which the person takes the name of the deceased, in addi- 

 tion to his own. In case of the death of a chief, or man of higher 

 rank, this belief affords the priest an opportunity of acquiring much 

 influence, and perpetuating his power and consequence. 



Fraser's river takes its rise in this region, and flows through it. The 

 country is also well vs^atered by the numerous streams flowing from 

 the mountains. The Company's party never navigate the Fraser's 

 river below Fort Thompson. Sir George Simpson, who passed down 

 it in 1828, stated that he found the navigation so dangerous and 

 difficult that it was almost totally impracticable. If it had offered 

 any facilities for navigation, the distance it would have saved in the 

 transportation of their goods for the northern posts, would have caused 

 the adoption of the route. This will readily be perceived by simply 

 estimating the distances. From Vancouver to Okonagan is three 

 hundred miles by water, with four portages ; and from Okonagan to 

 Fort Thompson by land one hundred and fifty miles ; thence to Fort 

 Alexandria, one hundred and twenty, and as much more to Fort St. 

 James, one hundred and twenty miles : total, seven hundred and 

 twenty miles, that occupy nearly sixty days in travelling, two-thirds 

 of which time is employed in going from Fort Okonagan to Fort St. 

 James. This distance, without loads, and with expedition, may be 

 travelled in twenty days. 



The climate of this northern section of country is unfavourable to 

 agriculture, in consequence of its being situated between two ranges 

 of mountains, the Rocky Mountains on the east, and the extension of 



