ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



335 



thickness of five feet, renders the setting and tak- 

 ing out of the nets, a work of greater difficulty. 

 They then cut holes, at the distance of thirty feet 

 from each other, to the whole length of the net, 

 one of which, is larger than the rest, being gener- 

 ally about four feet square, and is called the basin. 

 Through these holes, by means of poles of a suit- 

 able length, the net is placed in and drawn out of 

 the water. 



The Indians, throughout the whole country 

 that I have visited, have no other animals domes- 

 ticated, excepting the horse and the dog. Of the 

 latter, they have several different species. Some 

 of them are very large and strong, and are em- 

 ployed in carrying burdens ; while others, which 

 are small, assist their masters in the chace. — All 

 Indians are very fond of their hunting dogs. The 

 people on the west side of the Rocky Mountain, 

 appear to have the same affection for them, that 

 they have for their children ; and they will dis- 

 course with them, as if they were rational beings. 

 They frequently call them their sons or daughters ; 

 and when describing an Indian, they will speak of 

 him as father of a particular dog which belongs 

 to him. When these dogs die, it is not unusual 

 to see their masters or mistresses place them on 

 a pile of wood, and burn them in the same man- 

 ner as they do the dead bodies of their relations; 



