sPeReuvr

Q2 REPORT—1 890,

tions: They must build a sweat-house on a creek, sweat there all night,
and bathe regularly in the creek, after which they must rub their bodies
with spruce branches, the branches must be used only once, and are
stuck into the ground all around the hut. The mourner uses a cup and
cooking vessels by himself, and must not touch head nor body. No
hunter must come near him, as his presence is unlucky. They must
avoid letting their shadows fall upon a person, as the latter would fall
sick at once. ‘They use thorn bushes for pillow and bed, in order to keep
away the ghost of the deceased. ‘horn bushes are also laid all around
their beds. A widower must not go hunting, as the grizzly bear would
vet his scent and attack him at once.

Various Brniers,

Twins.—When twins are born, the mother must build a hut on the
slope of the mountains, on the bank of a creek, and live there with her
children until they begin to walk. They may be visited by their family,
or any other who wishes to see them, but they must not go into the
village, else her other children would die. Twins are called skumku'mq-
sisill, de., young grizzly bears. It is believed that throughout their lives
they are endowed with supernatural powers. They can make good and
bad weather. In order to produce rain they take a small basket filled
with water, which they spill into the air. For making clear weather
they use a small stick, to the end of which a string is tied. A small flat
piece of wood is attached to the end of the string, and this implement is
shaken. Storm is produced by strewing down on the ends of spruce
branches. While they are children their mother can see by their plays
whether her husband, when he is out hunting, is successful or not, When
the twins play about and feign to bite each other he will be successful ;
if they keep quiet he will retarn home empty-handed. If one of a
couple of twins should die the other must clean himself in the sweat-house
‘in order to remove the blood of the deceased out of his body.’

A decoction made of certain herbs, when used as hair-oil or mixed
with the saliva of a person, acts as a love-charm.

‘lo break eggs of the ptarmigan produces rain.

If one has a fecling as though someone was standing behind one’s
baci, or if a sudden chill goes down one’s back, it is a sign that someone
will die. If one’s leg twitches, someone is coming. When the ears ring,
someone speaks ill of one. The owl cries muk-tsa’ky (he is dead),
and calls the name of the person who will die.

One cannot make fire with the fire-drill after having eaten in the
morning,

Hair that has been cut off must be buried or thrown into the river.

Beaver-bones (not those of the salmon, as is the custom on the coast)
must be thrown into the river, else the beavers would not go into the
traps any more, The same would happen if a dog should eat beaver-meat,
or gnaw a beaver-bone.

When making bullets they mix wood that has been struck by lightning
with the lead. They believe that the bullets thus become more deadly,
as they will burn the deer’s flesh,

They believe that the beaver, when constructing its dam, kills one of
its young and buries it under the dam, that it may become firmer and
not give way to floods.