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groups, the Tsiinshian proper around the mouth of Skeeiia river, the 
Gitksaii (“ Skeena River people ”) farther up the same stream, and 
the Niska wlio inhabited the basin of Nass (Niska) river. Between 
these three groups there were slight differences in social organization 
and in customs, and rather more noticeable differences in speech, 
C2815 
A "J’sinisliian maiden wearing a C'liilkat blanket and carved 
head-dress. 
although they all spoke dialects of the Tsiinshian language. Owing 
to their geographical positions, the Niska and the Gitksan devoted 
more time to the hunting of land animals, particularly mountain 
goats and bears, than the Tsiinshian proper, who for their part 
directed their energies to halibut fishing, and the hunting of seals, 
