ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 15

fist, of this clay is burnt in a fire made of willow wood ; thus it becomes
a fine, white powder, which is mixed with the wool or hair. The mix-
ture is spread over a mat, sprinkled with water, and for several hours
thoroughly beaten with a sabre-like instrument until it is white and dry;
thus the grease is removed from the hair. Then it is spun with the hand
on the bare thigh. The thread is worked into a basket ; thus two baskets
full of thread are made. Then the two threads are rolled up together
on a stick and a large ball is made, which can be unrolled from the inner
end. ‘The latter is next fastened to the shaft of the spindle. The spindle
has a shaft about three feet long, a heavy disc of whale’s bone about a foot
in diameter being fastened to its centre. When in use, the upper end of
the shaft rests between the thumb and first finger of the left, while its
lower end stands on the ground. It is turned with the right hand by
striking the lower surface of the disc. Thus the two threads are twisted
one around the other, and the double thread is rolled on the shaft of the
spindle until the whole ball has been spun. These threads are used for
a variety of purposes ; for making blankets, for fringes, for making straps.
The blanket is woven on a very simple loom. The cloth- and yarn-bars
rest in two vertical posts, which have each slits for these bars. The ends
of the bars turn in these slits. The bars are adjustable, wedges being
inserted into the slits so as to regulate their distance. The warp is hung
over the bars, passing over a thin stick which hangs in the middle be-
tween the bars. The weft is plaited in between the warp, beginning
under the stick. Unfortunately, I am unable to describe the exact
method of weaving. The weft is pressed tight with the fingers. The
blankets have a selvage, which consists of a long thread with loops, that
form a fringe when the blanket is finished. Some blankets of this style
are made with black zigzag stripes.

Nettles serve for making ropes and nets. They are cleaned between
a pair of shells, then split with a bone needle, dried, and finally peeled.
The fibres are then spun on the thigh. Another fibrous plant called
clca’muk*‘, which is found on Fraser River, is traded for and used for making
nets. Red paint is not made by the Lku’figsn, but traded from the tribes
on the mainland. Neither do they make cedar-bark mats, the manu-
facture of which is confined to the Kwakiutl and Nootka.

Burnt pipe-clay is used for cleaning blankets. The clay is spread
over the blanket, sprinkled with water, and then thoroughly beaten.

Clams are prepared in the following way. They are opened by being
spread over red-hot stones and covered with a mat; then they are
taken out of the shell, strung on poles, and roasted. After being roasted
they are covered with a mat and softened by being trampled upon. Next
they are taken from the sticks on which they were roasted and strung on
cedar-bark strips. In this shape they are dried and stored for winter use
in boxes. They are eaten raw or with olachen oil. :

Salal berries are boiled and then dried on leaves; the boiled berries
are given the shape of square cakes. When eaten they are mashed in
water.

The root of Pteris aquilina is roasted, pounded, and the outer part is
eaten.

Haws are eaten with salmon roe.

On boat journeys the roots of Pteris aquilina and a species of onions
called k-tla’ol, serve for food.

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