Tue CANNIBAL SPIRIT

with stones or timber. The top of the rock is covered
with a deep layer of the black soil usually found on old
village sites and known as Indian mould. I could find
no trace of the clam shells which are usually to be found
in the mould, but Mr. White of Bella Coola, who is well
acquainted with this part of the coast, was of the opinion
that the total absence of clams from the neighbourhood
would account for the lack of shells. The surface of the
mould presents a series of terraces where the gently sloping
summit has evidently been carefully levelled for the con-
struction of buildings. From these signs, and from the
built up nature of the sides, it would appear that the rock
once formed a defence point such as is usually found in
the vicinity of the older Indian villages on this part of the
coast. The view to the south is clear for some miles, so
that an altitude of the sun at noon could be obtained
without any trouble. Finally, a large portion of the
south-east face, specially mentioned by Mackenzie, is
smooth, flat and almost vertical, and having a good
painting surface, presents the most suitable place Mac-
kenzie could have found in the neighbourhood for his famous
inscription.
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