New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-29

At,
" the scverest Arctic Winter
The term Columblans Is used by bir. Bancroft to
designate the native families in the vicinity OF the
Columbia River, between the discoveries OF the
Russians on the North and those of the Spanards on
the South Among the subdivisions of this people,
perhaps the most noteworthy are the Haldahs,
who occupy the coast and islands south of the Prince
of Wales Archipelago. They are tall and comely
race, not inferior TO any in North Western America.
Their faces broad with high cheek bones, the
eyes small, and generally black, though brown and
gray, with reddish tinge, are sometimes Observed
The hair is not always coarse and black, but often
soft in texture and of various shades of brown The
beard is usually plucked out with great care. Dur
ing their Summer hunting excursions they live In
simple lodges of poles covered with mats OF SKINS
In their villages the houses built of light logs. or
of thick split planks and Of sufficient size to accom-
modate largo number Of families OF their food,
which is of tempting description than that or
the moro Northern tribes, Mr.. Bancroft writes as
follows:
Although game is plentiful the IIaiahs are not race
OF hunters but derive their food chiefly from the innu
merable multitude Of nsh and anmas which each
variety Its season, I'LL the coast waters ost OF we
other animals particularly since the INTRODUCTION OF
firearms but 1t 10 generally the skin and not the hssh
that ia sought Some tribes abOli the BanncK cniIl-
nes at of Mackcuzies visit. wond not taste
flesh except from the sea- from SuperSlons motives
the glare OF torches and knocked down IN large mum
bers with Clubs. They arc roasted whont pucKlnR or
cleaning tho cntrais being left TO improve tue flavor
Potatoes, and small quantities OF crOS ana otncr veg
eataOes are now s r ius wnsn
place is cleared. Wild pIrsnps are abundant on
roasIe cd, furnish palaa5lc food; ptrries and buos
abound AMI the inner tcgueDf OF some varieties vi the
pine and hpmlock is drlcd in cakes and Gated with
salmon.ol The varieties OF fish sent ny ure to the
deep Dles and streams Tor the Hndas loQu are nsiy
numerous; their standard reliance for regular uppes
round-fsh, and haibut. Salmon are speared dipped
up in scoopnets; entangied in drignets managed be-
tween two canoes and forced by polcs 10 the bottom
intercepted IN their pursuit OF SMALLER hh ny Ginets
with coarse meshes made of cords OF native hemp,
stretched across entrance Of the sinai inlets; and
are caught Ia large wicker baskets placed at oltings
in wers md onuanknens whlSh nre nuiit across tnc
rivers. The salmon fishery ain rs ntte III inherent
parts Of Northwest Tne eandle-so, 10 fat that IN
only the insertion OF pith bark wlk to furnish an
comb The handle OF the rake Is fro SIX to eSt feet
long, and 1t Is swept through tho water iy tle iadas
numbers are taken in April by similar rGkes we'll
by dlpnets. large part OF ie whole take being used
the rocks and their flesh is esteemed great dccacy
CLAIMS cookies, aud shell1sh arc captured ~ sQuaws
FISH when caught, delivered to the women, whose
duty 1t is to prepare them for Winter use ny drying
sncSc-dried by being hung from the top of dwellings
then wrapped in bark or packed Ill rude baskets or
dogs aud children Salmon opened an the enras,
head, and backbone removed before drying. Daring
teeth Of the eater often worn down W 1t nearly oven
with the gums. Tao spawn OF SALMON and herring Is
greatly esteemed, and besides that ohainci ON the
fish caught much Is coec,cd phc boucls which are
stuck n the mad until loaded WITH te eggs Ihs native
In various ways; pounded between two stones, ana
beaten with wafer iutO creamy consistency or boiled
with surre and different berries aud OIded into cakes
np ens NJ w"odnn irsmes After sufficient supply Of
solid food for the Winter Is secured. OH the great neat
producing element of al northern tribes, IA exractrd
and
squeezing from the refuse Inc arms ana breast VI
tue women tho natural press i'll wncn the mass
abundant sea-wocd furnish natural bottles III whica the
oil is preserved for \ aud into wnIcn nearly
everything dipped before eating. Wheu the stock OF
food is secured II is rarely nriuged u1n unil the Win
sets in. but then such Is tao Indian appetc-.en
pounds of -four III the pancake form no meal heing
nothing for the stomach of dan ;cording TO Poole
that whole tribes ileqdehy sun-r RON hunger oeioe
Spring
The love Of amusement appears to be a great fea-
ture Of savage life, aud though manifested in diff
ferent NODES is not less universal than III civilized
society.
The Haidahs like all Indians. nveerLte gamblers.
and even, played with small round slick, whcl the
game ID won when one player has all tbs buhch O forty
or hfty STICKS 0rl:;!iy Oood:HS Is opponent. FAR
Their SOUTH and inland, some o. The Stits are pal ed
with red rlng', aud the players hi or luck consists IN
naming the NUN marks vi sticks previously
wrapped Ivy his antagonist Ia SrdS. Al nave D"cJino
fond WHISKY the Vi whites hut seem TO
have had IDtoyic ting G'uh before "A. tcr annual
trading fairs anu OIL other OCCASIONS t1S are iO0u OF VS.
change OF presents, su'ia1o retrh hS xDeccd lof
each gilt. AT these reception ica~ts M and women
seated benches along opposit waits; AT wedding
asts sexs Gancc and r!- together Ia dancing
the body head and rms are nrqw1 ialP yaii0h' at,
made OF the legs. On q !rcn Chal!ulIc Islands tAc
women dance ut ieast' wnc Tie iuen III circle beat
time with sticks the only umGnts except kind OF
taubOurIne. For their canoes tCy deck lnoLscycs III
TIER best array including pony o. Drd, down, which
they delight to communicate TO ncr rtncrs Ia Downg
and which they also blow into the air ut regular inter
walls through painted tune. Their songs a simple
most dances and cernmon"s though Mckenzie
heard them some soft aii Nv tones not unlike
church music The chiefs In Wi1ic' give partly tue
atrict partly rci'EOis eGt,rt-nn!2At, III which after
preparation b'hlnd acurt IN, dressed III rch apparel
and veal ing Dasds, they a9Gdr on stage an imtdo
different spirits for liz" obstruction VI tnc horers wac
mcanw while keep up thc!r s'nss.
The volume affords abundant means for making
an instructive parallel between the social
toms and ethical ideas of the aborighcs and those
communities which are supposed to have attained
the hight of human development. The admirers of
liberty without tho restraints of law, will here find
their favorlto schemes for improvement in full
bloom. Nor will the scientific inquirer the origin
of Species fail to observe that under the conditions of
state of savage Nature the hcaven-wide difference
between man and the lower animals dwindes into
an almost invisible point The line of dcmarcatiOn
which separates the Haldah or Chinook from q
Shakespeare and Newton appears TO be broader
than that which divides him from bear or q
baboOn. Mr. Bancroft, however, keeps clear from
all speculative theories suggestions. He evil
IDENTIFY has his own opinions most questions Of
current thought, but he has no wish to make his
book the vehicle for their discussion. Every reader
must admire the single-heartedness with which he
devotes himself to the investigation of facts. His
volume Is really marvel of research and discrim-
ination. Although he does not conceal hrs con-
seriousness of a mission, he shows no trace of the
creduty with which specialists are apt to pursue
the inquiries to which they have devoted their
lives. His sound judgment is no less apparent on