270 Journal of a Voyage through the 



bear the ashes of those who die at the place of their sum- 

 mer residence. 



Of their religion I can say but little, as my means of 

 observation were very contracted. I could discover, 

 however, that they believed in a good and an evil spirit : 

 and that they have some forms of worship to conciliate the 

 protection of one, and perhaps to avert the enmity of the 

 other, is apparent from the temples which I have describ- 

 ed ; and where, at stated periods, it may be presumed 

 they hold the feasts, and perform the sacrifices, which 

 their religion, whatever it may be, has instituted as the 

 ceremonials of their public worship. 



From the very little I could discover of their govern- 

 ment, it is altogether different from any political regula- 

 tion which had been remarked by me among the savage- 

 tribes. It is on this river alone that one man appears to 

 have an exclusive and hereditary right to what was neces- 

 sary to the existence of those who are associated with him. 

 I allude to the salmon weir, or fishing-place, the sole right 

 to which confers on the chief an arbitrary power. Those 

 embankments could not have been formed without a very 

 great and associated labour ; and, as might be supposed, 

 on the condition that those who assisted in constructing it 

 should enjoy a participating right in the advantages to be 

 derived from it. Nevertheless, it evidently appeared to 

 me, that the chief's power over it, and the people, was un- 

 limited, and without controul. No one could fish without 

 his permission, or carry home a larger portion of what he 

 had caught, than was set apart for him. No one could 

 build an house without his consent ; and all his commands 

 appeared to be followed with implicit obedience. The 

 people at large seemed to be on a perfect equality, while 

 the strangers among them were obliged to obey the com- 

 mands of the natives in general, or quit the village. They 

 appear to be of a friendly disposition, but they are subject 

 to sudden gusts of passion, which are as quickly composed ; 

 and the transition is instantaneous, from violent irritation 

 to the most tranquil demeanour. Of the many tribes of sav- 

 age people whom I have seen, these appear to be the most 

 susceptible of civilization. They might soon be brought 

 to cultivate the little ground about them which is capable 

 of it. There is a narrow border of a rich, black soil, on 

 either side of the river, over a bed of gravel, which would 



