20 BRITISH COLUMBIA.

(3.) Their near neighbours, the KWAKIUTL, constituted one of the
largest groups on the Coast. No clue exists as to the route they pursued after
crossing Bering Strait or through what phases they passed before they were found
in occupation of their present location by the first explorers. “They inhabited a
large area on the mainland immediately to the south of the Tsimshian (except
for a small district occupied by an offshoot of the great Salish people), and spread
across to the northern corner of Vancouver Island from Johnstone Strait to Cape
Cook. Noticeably different in physical proportions from the Tsimshian, they
were essentially an aggressive and acquisitive people, clever in adoption of what
appeared to them desirable among those with whom they came in contact. They
are accepted as the originators of the remarkable Secret Societies which figured
so prominently in the religious life of the Coast. ‘‘ Their earlier history is
shrouded in darkness,’ writes D. Jenness, “no clue having so far been traced to
throw light upon their previous wanderings.” ‘The three major tribal subdivi-
sions exemplified a characteristic feature present in a more or less marked degree
among all these tribes. 7

(4.) The NOOTKA occupied the west coast of Vancouver Island and were
little influenced in their customs by their northern neighbours. It was they with
whom Captain Cook and the earliest Spanish explorers first came in contact, and,
among a mass of other details descriptive of their customs, much admiration is
expressed for their courage and skill in the hunting of whales. (Elsewhere on
the Coast whale products became available merely when these huge creatures
were thrown up on the beaches after death.) ‘‘ Only hereditary chiefs could be
harpooners,” wrote Dr. C. F. Newcombe some years ago, “‘ and there was a great
deal of ceremony connected with this dangerous occupation; prayer, fasting in
the woods, frequent bathing in the sea, the use of certain magic charms, and the
invocation of ancestral protecting spirits. “The set of implements contained a
harpoon-shaft of yew, with two points, one of large mussel-shell and the other
of iron, fastened to an eyed lanyard of whale sinew. ‘These were carried in a
large bag of cedar matting, and when about to be used a long rope of twisted
cedar limbs was attached to the eye. A large buoy of inflated seal-skin, generally
painted with a property mark, was lashed to this rope at a distance sufficient to
avoid impeding the harpooner. On approaching a whale, he put on a head-band
of cedar bark dyed red, and consulted his secret charms, which were concealed in
a box in the bow of the canoe. His cedar-wood paddle was specially shaped with
a long tapering point.”

A number of canoes took part when hunting a sea-otter, surrounding the
animal which was then shot with copper- or bone-tipped arrows discharged from
yew bows. Fur-seals were speared when sleeping, the two-pronged harpoons
having long retrieving lines attached to their points.

The physical appearance of the Nootka people was noted as short and plump,
with round, full faces and coarse black hair. “They were apparently far from
loquacious, but docile and courteous, though interested only in what would be
of service to them. Few could resist the temptation to steal such desirable
posséssions as tools of iron or brass. Somewhat phlegmatic, only their eyes were
vivacious and keenly observant. Captain Cook was much impressed by their
ingenuity in “ manufactures and mechanics arts,” as well as by their fondness for
carvings and painting, of which he noted “the results were accurate, neat, and
varied.”

(5.) The BELLA COOLA, whose country almost bisects the territory of the
Kwakiutl, though obviously an offshoot of the Coast Salish, are said to have no