347 
caves ill which they laid their dead, but the majority of the Nootka 
deposited them in trees, either enclosed in boxes or wrapped in cedar 
bark. 
The chief deities of the Nootka were the sky-^-od, the thunder, 
and the supernatural wolves. Their superstitious awe of wolves 
found expression in a wolf ritual, which had maii}^ features in common 
with the secret society dances of the Kwakiutl and Bella Coola 
Indians. It lasted, however, only about eight days, and though it 
generally took place in winter, might be held at any season. During 
its performance the Nootka often killed a slave, practised self-torture, 
and ate dogs, just as the Kwakiutl did in their winter dances; but 
the main incidents were the carrying off of novices by fictitious 
wolves, their seclusion in the woods and subsequent recapture, the 
exorcism of the wolf spirits from their bodies, and a succession of 
imitativ'c dances. 
The Nootka have experienced the same decline in numbers as 
other west coast tribes. Their present population is slightly under 
1,500, as compared with perhaps 6,000 at the end of the eighteenth 
century.^ 
COAST SALISH 
The Coast Salish (“people”) inhabited all the coast of the 
mainland from Bute inlet to the mouth of Columbia river, and the 
portion of Vancouvei' islanrl not occupied by the Kwakiutl and 
Nootka — from Johnstone strait, that is, to port San Juan. They were 
as skilful as the Nootka in making baskets, and from dog and goat 
hair, mingled with cedar bark, they wove excellent blankets which 
they decorated with simple geometric patterns quite different from 
the complex designs (derived from the pecidiar style of painting) 
that were woven into the “ Chilkat ” blankets of the Tsimshian and 
Tlinkit. Clams and the meat of goats and deer were commoner foods 
than elsewhere along the coast, but they could not replace fish as the 
staple diet throughout the year. The houses, too, were unlike those 
of other tribes, having no gables, but long roofs with a gentle pitch 
that made admirable platforms at feasts and dances.^ 
The Coast Salish within Canada, excluding their kinsmen in the 
United States, spoke half a dozen dialects not mutually intelligible, 
1 .Vs late a.s I860 Sproat estimated that tliey euuld master 1,700 warriors. Sproat: Op, eit,, p. 18, 
- See illu.stration, p, 93. 
