San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-17
Relics of the Indian.

There is now on exhibition at the
Old London street one of the finest
collections of Indian relics and curios-
tiles ever seen in this city. They
were collected by Capt. Newton II.
Chittenden on the Queen Charlotte
Islands, off British Columbia. The peo-
pie of these islands. now reducedto $50
souls, are of fair complexion and re-
markably intelligent In accordance
with a well-knoNn genealogical prin-
ciple, their name, ''Hydahs," means
1.-THE people"
One of these Hydah curiosities is
hammer, carved and on granite. Its
head, six inches long, is shaped like
that of an eagle. As the tribe is di-
vided into political parties, known re-
spectively as the Bears and the Eagles,
this hammer was probably political
emblem. Another implement is a
warriors weapon, made of Alaskan
copper and shaped like battle-ax.
The head of the Hydah god Wasco is
hammered on one end of the AK. These
weapons are highly priced, and Capt.
Chittenden obtained this sample from
a woman after promising to conceal
it until he should leave the country.
The captain did not say what he gave
in return for this most interesting
curiosity, but it is known that SINH
lar one was secured in exchange for
six slaves at $500 each, eighty elk skins
at So each, ten boxes of oil at 50 box,
two dance dresses valued at $45
apiece, and a canoe eighty-four feet
ut hn hnl 10 =
ing to 81, $50.
The collection also includes a very
extraordinary set of gambling sticks
used by the natives. The usual set
contains fifty sticks, but this one is
composed of only twenty-six. They
are cylindrical IN form and about four
inches long. Twenty-four of them
are beautifully carved with the images
of fish, birds, and beasts found in that
region. The peculiar feature of the
set is that two of tile sticks are carved
with human figures almost exact coun-
terparts of the figures found on the old
Egyptian monuments and in Assyrian
carving. One represents high priest
with an AK raised to Stay the sacrifice.
The other is tile figure of a mummy.
The fire-making implement of these
people is a narrow piece of walrus tusk
about q foot and a half long, shaped
like bow, and on which are en-
graved hunting scenes. To this is at
tached sealskin string. Fire is made
by taking turn of the string around
stick of hard wood, and by these
means revolving it against another
piece of hard wood; punk is placed
from time to time in the hole worn in
the under board, and the heat gem
Grated from the friction of The two
pieces of wood causes the punk TO ig-
mite. The music of the hydola is an
imitation of the cries of the birds, and
is made by series of whistle with
which the natives become very expert
They also use the t0m-tom, made of
walrus hides.
These people have novel way of
hunting, using instead of a bow and
arrow, peculiarly shaped harpoon.
This instrument is about five feet
long, the point being made of q
piece of walrus tusk ten inches long
The stick is of cypress, and about half
way up three fish bones are arranged
around the stick, these points extend
ing outward in order to stick the bird
in case the point on the end should
miss. This harpoon, when used, is
held in the left hand. In the right is
paddle of hard wood eighteen inches
long, on the face of which is groove
extending almost to the end. The
tip of the harpoon is fitted into this
groove, and the weapon is thrown
with double force. The native can
strike fowl in water fully one hun
dred feet distant. A hunter usually
carries with him a number of these
harpoons of various sizes.-NeW York
Mail and Express.