292 



X 1 V". 



ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



white people, made use of stones, instead of axes, 

 and of bones, for knives ; and with these, they 

 constructed wooden dishes, and other vessels of 

 the rind of the birch and pine trees, &c. Some 

 of these vessels were used to cook their victuals 

 in, and many of these people still make use of them : 

 for they are too poor to purchase brass or copper 

 kettles from us. They have, also, other vessels, 

 which are manufactured of the small roots or 

 fibers of the cedar or pine tree, closely laced to- 

 gether, which serve them as buckets to put water 

 in. I have seen one at Fraser's Lake, made of 

 the same materials, that would hold sixty or seven- 

 ty gallons, which they make use of when a feast is 

 given to all the people of the village. All the 

 vessels fabricated of roots, as well as the most of 

 their bows and arrows, they obtain from their 

 neighbours, above mentioned. 



The Carriers are remarkably fond of their 

 wives, and a few of them have three or four ; but 

 polygamy is not general among them. The men 

 do the most of the drudgery about the house, 

 such as cutting and drawing fire wood, and 

 bringing water. In the winter months, they drink 

 but little water 5 but to quench their thirst, they 

 eat half melted snow, which they generally keep 

 on the top of a stick, stuck into the ground, before 

 the fire. 



