ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 25

of cauterisation. The bark of a tree named k'‘tlemé'ltc is used for the
same purpose.

Rheumatism.—'The skin is scratched with sharp shells and then
rubbed with either ¢s’ztgedftlic or k'u'nitlp. Ido not know what plants
these are.

Carex sp.—Haten to bring about abortion, or when the menses are
irregular. As the edges of the leaves are sharp it is supposed that they
will cut and thus kill the embryo, and that they will cut the inside of the
woman, thus producing the menses.

Populus trichocarpa, S. and Gr. (pk’életitc).—Fruits pulverised and
mixed with fish oil, used as hair oil to make the hair grow. The fruits
are found high up on the tree—a long way up, therefore they will make
the hair long.

Wasps’ nest.—Decoction of wasps’ nest or of flies drunk by barren
women to make them bear children, as both bring forth many young.

Wasps are burnt and the faces of warriors are rubbed with the ashes,
before they go on a war expedition, to make them brave. Wasps are
warlike insects, and therefore will make the warrior brave like themselves.

Osmorrhiza nuda, Torr.—Roots chewed by girls in spring as a loyve-
charm. The girl first bathes, then chews the root and rubs the saliva on
her left arms upwards towards the heart, at the same time naming the man
whose love she wishes to win. Then she rubs the saliva with the left hand
up the right arm towards the heart, speaking her own name. She ends
the latter motion in such a way that the hand remains above the place
where she put the young man’s name. Thus her own name is placed
above his and she has conquered him.

Peucedanwm leiocarpum, Nutt. (k'eqmé'n).—This plant is one of the
most powerful ‘medicines.’ It is burnt to drive away ghosts. The first
salmon of the season are roasted on it, and it is used in carrying them to
the house. It is chewed and the juice swallowed as a remedy against
cough. <A poultice of k'zqmé'n is spread on the head to cure headache.

To spit water on a sick person alleviates his pain.

Fractured bones are bandaged by means of the outer layer of cedar-
bark. In complicated fractures the splinters of bone are first removed,
then the limb is bandaged.

Rattlesnake poison is obtained by trade from the tribes on the upper
Fraser River and on Thompson River. A powder of human bones is
drunk as an antidote,

Omens.—Sneezing, ringing of the ear, twitching of muscles on right
side are good omens, on left side bad omens. These also mean that people
are speaking good or ill of the person according as the sensation is felt on
the right or the left side. When one feels a weight on the breast or a
fluttering of the heart, or when one must sigh, it indicates that something
ill will happen to a relative or friend. When the lower eyelid twitches
it indicates that one will weep. When an owl alights near a house and
moves but little, husband or wife will die. When a large owl cries near
the village, someone will die. To dream something ill of someone means
that he will have bad luck.

An arrow or any other weapon which has wounded a man must
be hidden, and care must be taken that it is not brought near the fire
until the wound is healed. If a knife or an arrow which is still covered
with blood of a man is thrown into the fire the wounded man will become
very ill.

BATS TALL & PSE —2OS BAAS eee