ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 2}

is attached to the curve. This frame is covered with a layer of fine cedar-
bark. This layer is made of fibres of double the length of the cradle-board
or frame. They are combed and carefully stretched out. Then a roll of
bark about two inches wide by one inch high is laid on the middle part
of the layer, and the fibres are doubled up so as to cover the roll. The fibres
are plaited together with a thread of mountain-goat wool close to the roll,
and thus keep it in place. A fringe of wool is fastened to the roll which
forms the pillow of the infant (5). On top of the infant’s head a cushion
for pressing down the forehead is fastened (6). It consists of a series of
flat rolls of cedar-bark, covered with a layer of fibres of cedar-bark in the
same way as the pillow. Hach roll is held in place bya plaiting of moun-
tain-goat wool thread. The upper end of the cushion is also set with a
fringe of this material. Between the cushion and the head a thick veil
of cedar-bark is placed. This is made by drawing bundles of long fibres
of cedar-bark through a cord of mountain-goat wool thread. The fringes
lie over the head and occiput of the infant joining the pillow. The cord
from which the veil hangs down lies across the forehead. The cushion is
placed on top of this veil, so that its fringes hang down at the occiput of
the child, while the plain edge lies near the forehead. A string is attached
to the centre of the cord of the veil, and pulled backward over the cushion
to the loop fastened to the curve of the cradle-board, to which it is
fastened. Under the compressing cushion at both sides of the face rolls
of cedar-bark are placed and pressed against the head, their upper end
being also ornamented with fringe of mountain-goat wool thread. Then
a cord is tied over the cushion and pulled downward to the third or fourth
loop on the sides of the cradle. Thus a strong pressure is brought to
act upon the region of the coronal suture. A cord of mountain-goat
wool passes from side to side over the cradle and holds the infant. The
face is covered with a hood-like mat to keep off the flies. When the
child is about a month old it is placed in a wooden cradle. This is shaped
like a trough. An inch or two above the bottom a kind of mattress is
fastened, which consists of longitudinal strips of cedar-wood tied to two
cross-pieces. The latter are tied to the sides of the cradle. In the bot-
tom of the trough there is a hole for the refuse to run off. At the foot
end there is a small board, ascending at an angle of about 30°, on which
the child’s feet rest, so that they are higher up than the head. The child
is fastened in this cradle in the same way as on the first. The cradle is
suspended from a cedar-branch, which is fastened to the wall or set up
still attached to its trunk. It is worked by means of a rope attached to
the point of the branch. For some time after birth the husband must
keep at some distance (or out of sight?) from his wife, and must bathe
and clean himself in the woods, that the child may become strong.
Both parents are forbidden to eat fresh salmon. When the woman first
rises from her bed after the child has been born, she and her husband
must go into the woods and live there for some time. They make a camp
in which they remain. arly in the morning one (doubtful which) goes
eastward, the other westward, and bathe and clean themselves with cedar-
branches. They stay in the woods about a month. As soon as the child
is able to walk, the cradle and the branch from which it was suspended
are deposited at certain places above high water. One of these points
used to be where the Hospital of Victoria now stands. Its name is
P’a'latsEs (=the cradles) ; another, the point Quqé’/leq, the third point
east of Beacon Hill. 7

SSELt = UPSSSSSE =2ES A 225 Sac eeeas