Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-24
,. G. SWAN AnoSC ruE NoRruK4y
INDIANS.

lvDlANS.
Correspondents P. T. Angus.
| MAssxT, Queen Charlotte Island, Is. C.
June II, 1883
In my last letter, dated on board the
steamer Otter in Clarence Strait, june
oath, / promised to let you know of my
arrival here, which was ON the after
noon Of the 18th. was very kindly re-
ceived and welcomed BY Mr.. Alexander
Mckenzie, trader ut the Hudson Bay
Company's post here, Who assigned me
complete quarters in q cottage inside
the company's enclosure, where / have
established myself, and through tie
kind assistance of Mr.. Mckenzie have
made a very interesting collection, to
which l am making additions every
day.
have been up Massst Inlet with Mr..
Mckenzie and Mr.. c. w. d. Clifford, of
Peace river, who 10 here on q visit We
made our first camp at the mouth of a
small stream, some twelve or fourteen
miles from here. and had q very pleas
ant time. We visited some small
streams to examine the country, and OBJ
tain some fossils.
Masset village Is situated on the east
ern shore of Mssset Inlet, about 2j<
miles from Dixon's entrance. The
shore takes bend toward the east, and
the village faces the south. This bend
Is too slight to be shown in the chart of
the Inlet, which ID represented az run
ming almost due north and south. The
country is level, and there is much open
pasture land which is covered with a
luxur1ant growth of grass and wild pea,
affording the richest kind of pasture, as
the f1ne condition of Mr.. McKenzie's
cattle proves. The shores of the Inlet
present the same appearance a. the
country back Of Whidby's Island and
Swinomish. There is a dense growth of
spruce, hemlock, and cedar, and in the
interior, near the mountains, is the val
low cyprus or Sitka cedar, as il ia caIletl
on Puget Sound. The Spruce il verv
large and makes excellent lumber. and
the cedar also grows to a very large
size.
Masset is the canoe building place of
Queen Charlotte Islands, more canoes
being built here than at any other vii
lage. There are now quite number of
large ones in the course of building, and
now have good chance to see the !
method and make sketches of canoes
Just hewn out, and the same canoe after |
being properly sketched. After the |
canoe has been mostly hewn out red-hot |
stone are placed in il, water thrown in |
and the canoe covered over With mats |
and sails to keep in the heat. l examin-
ID one today, the water fairly boiled. |
and when the wood was softened bv the |
steam and heat, sticks were inserted |
and the sides gradually pressed open
I'LL about the desired width was OBJ |
tained. The canoe is then allowed
TO remain over night. The next day
new hot stones and water are nut in. |
and slow fire is made ON the ground.
along the bottom of the canoe. This
'oughens the wood and allows it to be |
made wider by the stretching until it is
as wide as sa:ety will permit, and then
when cold Is finished off with chisels
md hand ADDE'S, and thwarts are in
serted and the knot holes ingenieusly
topped, and the canoe is ready for
painting. Those canoes are sold to the
indians at Fort Simpson and Skidipate,
Ind other villages, and are famous for
heir neat appearance.
The houses of the Massett Indians, of
he old construction are massive build
nRs, about 50 feet square, some made
onRer. In front of each is carved
column, made of the trunk of q cedar
rec, followed out behind to lessen the
weight. Some OF these are IS feet high.
IN the front side are carved devices ins
ilnating the tokens or family crests,
which are represented by bear, beaver,
rog, eagle, raven, seal, halibut, shark
md other animals, grouped together in
antastlc manner, to illustrate some
Incient legend. Every column has its
history, and some Of the legends are as
as the tales of the orgies.