Part 35 (1/2)

_Irving's Bonneville's Adven._, p. 301, 388. Okanagans live extensively on moss made into bread. The Nez Perces also eat moss. _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. iv., pp. 462, 494. Pend d'Oreilles at the last extremity live on pine-tree moss; also collect camash, bitter-roots, and sugar pears. _Stevens_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept._, 1854, p. 211, 214-15. 'I never saw any berry in the course of my travels which the Indians scruple to eat, nor have I seen any ill effect from their doing so.'

_Kane's Wand._, p. 327. The Kootenai food in September 'appears to be almost entirely berries; namely, the ”sasketoom” of the Crees, a delicious fruit, and a small species of cherry, also a sweet root which they obtain to the southward.' _Blakiston_, in _Palliser's Explor._, p.

73. Flatheads dig _konah_, 'bitter root' in May. It is very nutritious and very bitter. _Pahseego_, camas, or 'water seego,' is a sweet, gummy, bulbous root. _Stuart's Montana_, pp. 57-8. Colvilles cut down pines for their moss (alectoria?). Kamas also eaten. _Pickering's Races_, in _U.

S. Ex. Ex._, vol. ix., p. 34. The Shushwaps eat moss and lichens, chiefly the black lichen, or _whyelkine_. _Mayne's B. C._, p. 301; _Parker's Explor. Tour_, p. 127. The Salish in March and April eat _popkah_, an onion-like bulb; in May, _spatlam_, a root like vermicelli; in June and July, _itwha_, like roasted chestnuts; in August, wild fruits; in September, _marani_, a grain. _Domenech's Deserts_, vol. ii., p. 312.

[393] At the Dalles 'during the fis.h.i.+ng season, the Indians live entirely on the heads, hearts and offal of the salmon, which they string on sticks, and roast over a small fire.' Besides pine-moss, the Okanagans use the seed of the balsam oriza pounded into meal, called _mielito_. 'To this is added the _siffleurs_.' Berries made into cakes by the Nez Perces. _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. iv., pp.

410, 462, 494. Quamash, 'eaten either in its natural state, or boiled into a kind of soup, or made into a cake, which is then called pasheco.'

_Lewis and Clarke's Trav._, pp. 330, 353, 365, 369. Women's head-dress serves the Flatheads for cooking, etc. _De Smet_, _Voy._, pp. 47, 193-9; _Id._, _Missions de l'Oregon_, pp. 75-6. 'The dog's tongue is the only dish-cloth known' to the Okanagans. Pine-moss cooked, or _squill-ape_, will keep for years. 'At their meals they generally eat separately and in succession--man, woman and child.' _Ross' Adven._, pp. 132-3, 295, 317-18. 'Most of their food is roasted, and they excel in roasting fish.' _Parker's Explor. Tour_, pp. 231, 107. 'Pine moss, which they boil till it is reduced to a sort of glue or black paste, of a sufficient consistence to take the form of biscuit.' _Franchere's Nar._, p. 279. Couse tastes like parsnips, is dried and pulverized, and sometimes boiled with meat. _Alvord_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. v., p. 656. Root bread on the Clearwater tastes like that made of pumpkins.

_Ga.s.s' Jour._, pp. 202-3. Kamas after coming from the kiln is 'made into large cakes, by being mashed, and pressed together, and slightly baked in the sun.' White-root, pulverized with stones, moistened and sun-baked, tastes not unlike stale biscuits. _Townsend's Nar._, pp.

126-7. Camas and sun-flower seed mixed with salmon-heads caused in the eater great distension of the stomach. _Remy and Brenchley's Jour._, vol. ii., pp. 509-11. _Sowete_, is the name of the mixture last named, among the Cayuses. _c.o.ke's Rocky Mts._, p. 310; _Ind. Life_, p. 41; _Stuart's Montana_, pp. 57-8; _Pickering's Races_, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. ix., p. 34; _Kane's Wand._, pp. 272-3; _Ind. Aff. Rept._, 1854, pp.

214-15.

[394] Additional notes and references on procuring food. The Okanagans break up winter quarters in February; wander about in small bands till June. a.s.semble on the river and divide into two parties of men and two of women for fis.h.i.+ng and dressing fish, hunting and digging roots, until October; hunt in small parties in the mountains or the interior for four or six weeks; and then go into winter quarters on the small rivers.

_Ross' Adven._, pp. 314-16. Further south on the Columbia plains the natives collect and dry roots until May; fish on the north bank of the river till September, burying the fish; dig camas on the plains till snow falls; and retire to the foot of the mountains to hunt deer and elk through the winter. The Nez Perces catch salmon and dig roots in summer; hunt deer on snow-shoes in winter; and cross the mountains for buffalo in spring. Sokulks live on fish, roots, and antelope. Eneeshur, Echeloots, and Chilluckittequaw, on fish, berries, roots and nuts.

_Lewis and Clarke's Trav._, pp. 444-5, 340-1, 352, 365, 370. Spokanes live on deer, wild fowl, salmon, trout, carp, pine-moss, roots and wild fruit. They have no repugnance to horse-flesh, but never kill horses for food. The Sinapoils live on salmon, camas, and an occasional small deer.

The Chaudiere country well stocked with game, fish and fruit. _c.o.x's Adven._, vol. i., p. 201, vol. ii., p. 145. The Kayuse live on fish, game, and cama.s.s bread. _De Smet_, _Voy._, pp. 30-1. 'Ils cultivent avec succes le ble, les patates, les pois et plusieurs autres legumes et fruits.' _Id._, _Miss. de l'Oregon._, p. 67. Pend d'Oreilles; fish, Kamash, and pine-tree moss. _Id._, _West. Missions_, p. 284. 'Whole time was occupied in providing for their bellies, which were rarely full.'

_Ind. Aff. Rept._, 1854, p. 211. Yakimas and Kliketats; Unis or fresh-water muscles, little game, sage-fowl and grouse, kamas, berries, salmon. The Okanagans raise some potatoes. _Gibbs_, in _Pac. R. R.

Rept._, vol. i., pp. 404, 408, 413. Kootenais; fish and wild fowl, berries and pounded meat, have cows and oxen. _Palliser's Explor._, pp.

10, 72. Palouse; fish, birds, and small animals. Umatillas; fish, sage-c.o.c.ks, prairie-hares. _Lord's Nat._, vol. ii., pp. 97, 105-6.

Tushepaws would not permit horses or dogs to be eaten. _Irving's Astoria_, p. 316. Nez Perces; beaver, elk, deer, white bear, and mountain sheep, also steamed roots. _Id._, _Bonneville's Adven._, p.

301. Sahaptin; gather cherries and berries on Clarke River. _Ga.s.s'

Jour._, p. 193; _Nicolay's Ogn. Ter._, p. 151; _Hines' Voy._, p. 167; _Brownell's Ind. Races_, pp. 533-5; _Stanley's Portraits_, pp. 63-71; _Catlin's N. Am. Ind._, vol. ii., p. 108; _Kane's Wand._, pp. 263-4; _Parker's Explor. Tour_, pp. 228-31, 309; _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex.

Ex._, vol. iv., p. 474; _Hale's Ethnog._, _Ib._, vol. vi., p. 206.

[395] _Lewis and Clarke's Trav._, pp. 383, 548; _Parker's Explor. Tour_, pp. 230, 312; _Townsend's Nar._, p. 148; _De Smet_, _Voy._, pp. 46-7, 198; _c.o.x's Adven._, vol. i., pp. 197-9, 358, vol. ii., pp. 155, 373, 375; _c.o.ke's Rocky Mts._, p. 295; _Palmer's Jour._, pp. 54, 58, 59.

[396] The Okanagan weapon is called a _Spampt_. _Ross' Adven._, pp.

318-19; _Id._, _Fur Hunters_, vol. i., pp. 306-8. 'Ils ... faire leurs arcs d'un bois tres-elastique, ou de la corne du cerf.' _De Smet_, _Voy._, p. 48; _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. iv., p. 488; _Stevens_, in _Pac. R. R. Rept._, vol. i., p. 405; _Townsend's Nar._, p.

98; _Irving's Astoria_, p. 317; _Lewis and Clarke's Trav._, p. 351; _Parker's Explor. Tour_, pp. 106-7, 233; _c.o.x's Adven._, vol. i., p.

216.

[397] Torture of Blackfeet prisoners; burning with a red-hot gun-barrel, pulling out the nails, taking off fingers, scooping out the eyes, scalping, revolting cruelties to female captives. The disputed right of the Flatheads to hunt buffalo at the eastern foot of the mountains is the cause of the long-continued hostility. The wisest and bravest is annually elected war chief. The war chief carries a long whip and secures discipline by flagellation. Except a few feathers and pieces of red cloth, both the Flathead and Kootenai enter battle perfectly naked.

_c.o.x's Adven._, vol. i., pp. 232-45, vol. ii., p. 160. The Cayuse and Sahaptin are the most warlike of all the southern tribes. The Nez Perces good warriors, but do not follow war as a profession. _Ross' Fur Hunters_, vol. i., pp. 185-6, 305, 308-12, vol. ii., pp. 93-6, 139.

Among the Okanagans 'the hot bath, council, and ceremony of smoking the great pipe before war, is always religiously observed. Their laws, however, admit of no compulsion, nor is the chief's authority implicitly obeyed on these occasions; consequently, every one judges for himself, and either goes or stays as he thinks proper. With a view, however, to obviate this defect in their system, they have inst.i.tuted the dance, which answers every purpose of a recruiting service.' 'Every man, therefore, who enters within this ring and joins in the dance ... is in honour bound to a.s.sist in carrying on the war.' _Id._, _Adven._, pp.

319-20. Mock battles and military display for the entertainment of white visitors. _Hines' Voy._, pp. 173-4. The Chilluckittequaws cut off the forefingers of a slain enemy as trophies. _Lewis and Clarke's Trav._, pp. 375-6. When scouting, 'Flathead chief would ride at full gallop so near the foe as to flap in their faces the eagle's tail streaming behind (from his cap), yet no one dared seize the tail or streamer, it being considered sacrilegious and fraught with misfortune to touch it.'

_Tolmie_, in _Lord's Nat._, vol. ii., p. 238. A thousand Walla Wallas came to the Sacramento River in 1846, to avenge the death of a young chief killed by an American about a year before. _Colton's Three Years in Cal._, p. 52. One Flathead is said to be equal to four Blackfeet in battle. _De Smet_, _Voy._, pp. 31, 49; _Dunn's Oregon_, pp. 312-13; _Gray's Hist. Ogn._, pp. 171-4; _Parker's Explor. Tour_, pp. 233-7; _Stanley's Portraits_, pp. 65-71; _Ind. Life_, pp. 23-5; _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. iv., p. 495.

[398] White marl clay used to cleanse skin robes, by making it into a paste, rubbing it on the hide and leaving it to dry, after which it is rubbed off. Saddles usually sit uneasily on the horse's back. _Parker's Explor. Tour_, pp. 106, 232-4. 'Mallet of stone curiously carved' among the Sokulks. Near the Cascades was seen a ladder resembling those used by the whites. The Pishquitpaws used 'a saddle or pad of dressed skin, stuffed with goats' hair.' _Lewis and Clarke's Trav._, pp. 353, 370, 375, 528. On the Fraser a rough kind of isingla.s.s was at one time prepared and traded to the Hudson Bay Company. _Lord's Nat._, vol. i., p. 177. 'The Sahaptins still make a kind of vase of lava, somewhat in the shape of a crucible, but very wide; they use it as a mortar for pounding the grain, of which they make cakes.' _Domenech's Deserts_, vol. ii., pp. 64, 243. (Undoubtedly an error.) Pend d'Oreilles; 'les femmes ... font des nattes de joncs, des paniers, et des chapeaux sans bords.' _De Smet_, _Voy._, p. 199. 'Nearly all (the Shushwaps) use the Spanish wooden saddle, which they make with much skill.' _Mayne's B.

C._, pp. 301-2. 'The saddles for women differ in form, being furnished with the antlers of a deer, so as to resemble the high pommelled saddle of the Mexican ladies.' _Franchere's Nar._, pp. 269-70; _Palmer's Jour._, p. 129; _Irving's Astoria_, p. 317, 365; _c.o.x's Adven._, vol.

i., pp. 148-9.

[399] 'The white-pine bark is a very good subst.i.tute for birch, but has the disadvantage of being more brittle in cold weather.' _Suckley_, in _Pac. R. R. Rept._, vol. i., p. 296. Yakima boats are 'simply logs hollowed out and sloped up at the ends, without form or finish.'

_Gibbs_, in _Id._, p. 408. The Flatheads 'have no canoes, but in ferrying streams use their lodge skins, which are drawn up into an oval form by cords, and stretched on a few twigs. These they tow with horses, riding sometimes three abreast.' _Stevens_, in _Id._, p. 415. In the Kootenai canoe 'the upper part is covered, except a s.p.a.ce in the middle.' The length is twenty-two feet, the bottom being a dead level from end to end. _Ross' Fur Hunters_, vol. ii., pp. 169-70. 'The length of the bottom of the one I measured was twelve feet, the width between the gunwales only seven and one half feet.' 'When an Indian paddles it, he sits at the extreme end, and thus sinks the conical point, which serves to steady the canoe like a fish's tail.' _Lord's Nat._, vol. ii., pp. 178-9, 255-7. On the Arrow Lakes 'their form is also peculiar and very beautiful. These canoes run the rapids with more safety than those of any other shape.' _Kane's Wand._, p. 328. See _De Smet_, _Voy._, pp.

35, 187; _Irving's Astoria_, p. 319; _Lewis and Clarke's Trav._, p. 375; _Hector_, in _Palliser's Explor._, p. 27; _Stevens_, in _Ind. Aff.

Rept._, 1854, pp. 208, 214, 223, 238.

[400] 'The tradition is that horses were obtained from the southward,'

not many generations back. _Tolmie_, in _Lord's Nat._, vol. ii., pp.

247, 177-8. Individuals of the Walla Wallas have over one thousand horses. _Warre and Vavasour_, in _Martin's Hud. Bay_, p. 83. Kootenais rich in horses and cattle. _Palliser's Explor._, pp. 44, 73. Kliketat and Yakima horses sometimes fine, but injured by early usage; deteriorated from a good stock; vicious and lazy. _Gibbs_, in _Pac. R.