1878. ] Social Life amoug. the Aborigines. 9 
= smoke hole, and brings from some adjacent running spring a 
l _ kettle of water for drinking and cooking purposes. Returning, 
-the beds and mats are rolled up against the wall and the inmates 
perform their very simple toilets which consist chiefly in putting 
on their clothing, all of which except a pair of deerskin socks is 
usually removed at night. A few touches to their hair, a dry wash 
with a bit of cotton rubbed over the face, or at most with a little 
fine snow in lieu of water; after which bunches of dry grass are 
arranged in their boots to fit the foot, the boots are put on and 
tied, and they are ready for the day’s work. 
Meanwhile the housewife has prepared the materials for a meal 
of boiled deer, or seal flesh or of boiled fish with oil. The morn- 
ing meal, always hurried, is seldom delayed to roast meat or fish 
on sticks, as at the evening meal. The house-fellows make short 
work of their breakfast and immediately disperse to visit their 
_ traps or pursue the avocations of the day. The remnants of the 
= meal fall to the share of the dogs, the wooden dishes are usually 
hastily cleaned, and the mistress of the house sits at her daily 
work. This at this season usually consists in preparing deer 
skins for boots or clothing, or cutting and sewing the skins into 
garments. From time to time during the day a morsel of deer 
fat, a bit of dry salmon or some other fragment of food is inci- 
-dentally discussed, but without any regularity. Since most of the 
women are similarly engaged in the morning there are usually few 
visitors until the middle of the day is passed, unless some girl 
_ bringing her work with her, comes in to sew in company with 
others, if her own house be empty of female associates. Chit- 
chat, scandal and very small small-talk make up the bulk of the 
= conversation, broken only by directions in regard to work from 
the more experienced work-woman to the younger ones. As the 
_ day draws into afternoon some stranger from another village may 
_ present himself, when with few words he is directed to a sitting. 
~ place, one of the women removes his wet boots and places them, 
__and the straw pads they contain, in the smoke to dry, and some- 
thing in the way of refreshment is at once offered to him. 
_ Silence reigns for a time when slowly, bit by bit, and at long 
intervals, the stranger tells the story of his journey, the latest 
~ news in his own village, and any messages he may bring to the 
household. 
© As night comes on, the sewing is laid aside, the smouldering 
r isb built ay to throw out a pes blaze, and one of the 
