Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-09-04
THE SIwASH AND HIS CANOE,
Picturesque Scenes on Puget Sound.

bS II z IIe Ibis REACHES TCG The 70
mantle season Of this section will hare
begun The hops vii be RI ipsBipg, and
the coast Indians from far and near
viii be Coming Io pick them Puget
Sound VIII t,s covered with their curl
GUS canoes. and 50 viii the edge OF tie
ocean as far north e. A Alaska md s0uth
10 tie mouth 0f ths ColuD bia, while
al hight The shores viii be bright with
their camp-hres and the air viii -e-
sound with Ihe barking of their dogs
TIE siwash Indian and his canoe
are insepRrabIe. rs and his ancestors
have lived IN il for 50 many genera
tions that his legs have grown short
Rnd crooked BY nature, and away from
the water be is practically helpless.
To understand him and what BE- i.y you
must first study TIE canoe Il is fash
Toned from q single log and Il singn-
lRrly light and graceful II pattern.
People who know all about boats say
il i built On the most accurate model
both for speed and safety, and there Is
evidence tbat j. las been built On this
model IT many, many generations.
There j. nothing q SlwAsh is more
Aban4Autly supplied with than time
and therefore be can and does devote
plenty Of il 10 the manufacture OF one
make more than one as they last more
than ft-tiIne generally, and descend
from iALher to son as be most valued
0I ths family possessions. When how
ever, Il lew oDe IL needed tree is So
lected with great care, spd cedar Is us-
TALLY preferred 10 fir. Among trees
from 2D0 to 800 feet high and al straight
as arrows, with DO limbs b speak OF
except 81 he top, suitable one is nos
hard DO find. Iiis then feiled generally, !
by ihe AID Of fire, then bewed TO tie
model Of perfect boat. Then ih-
long and slow PROCESS Of hollowing out
The Inside is begun. 4 long trench Is /
chopped out Of the middle, and this is
flied with water and stones are
THROWN into It until The sides are
thol Cug h]y soaked and steamed Then |
they are spread apart by slow
and tedious process OF brRcing and /
more is hewed ont Of the interior, and |
the process Of stegming and spreading !
Il repent sd. "A beD st last II ls bswed 70 |
al even thickness, steamed and spread /
10 The proper width and finished mp a.
neatly a. 81 accomplished cabinet |
maker eoal6 make il, 8 long fore peak |
or urow is cut and few round braces |
are p1t across hear the top 10 keep II /
sqread 10 proper shape, the whole Is
painted black with some native paint
that seems Ee1er 10 change color, and /
the boat Is ready TO be launch ed The
launching PROCESS IL sometimes diAl-
cult because the best tree Is taken
VI here found, without reference 10 the
wafer, and sometimes the boat has i9
bs carried long distance through The
taug1ed wood, but as time is no objt CT,
End IA perfect boat every object, DO
pa jlIs 81 fbls Kind il avoided, Once the
boat il in the water ibe ow Der's life
work Is accomp plished- He las IN il
home. means % travel and s1hsis-
.ence com biDed, since by means Of il
all lis wants are supplied. Such
thing Rs seat Ia il WIS never Known
" tLoBgLt OF. An Indian has DO nss
|, 7 such 8 convenience He simply
sQDats tsiior-fashion Near the stern
while the hioocbman, or squaw, BE
She would be called among the Eastern
Indians. fakes h similar comfortable
portion near Tie prov, and each with
witA IA short, sharp paddle furnishes &
ere II The motive power tbst drives
il through The wafer with surprising
rrsce and swifIusEs. J. "a long journey
Is to be made, 81 IL the bGp-p}cklne
season, the entire household effects.
teepe, blankets, kettles. pRpp ases and
5ass are taken sbJard. TIE buaf then
becomes the family hoDe for tire time
Being ] have counted thirteen per-
abs IL one Of these cznoes sI one time
aD6 there seemed 10 be 81 lesstoDe dog
to esch person. The older persons ply
Tire paddles while The children and dogs
ook on. Sometimes Of lste years Z
oair o. oars Is seen as part Of the pro-
oeIling machinery, and Dow and again
} IS ]. but usually the Siwash relies
3n his paddle and II Is remarkable
what rate Of speed be can naintain
with IL
Arrired at the hop fields IN the
Puysnpp, DEamish Or Nesqually val
.eys the family diseubark, find out
where they can get the best pay for
their services. 8 matter in which they
are beeomIng very expert Of lafe years,
sDd then set mp their camp. The
canoe is hauled Up on shore and cover
Cd witt mating 10 protect il frfIn tbs
SUR The picking generally lasts
bout two weeks, and during that time
the Indian IL on shore for the longest
period IN the whole year. The whole
family work iDauslrlouslr during that
time, unless too old 10 isRre Ihs teeyse
or too Young 10 stand alone. If the
former they are left 10 guard smp. q
service III which they are very prof.
cieDf. 1si1g generally 80 ugly as n be
3 tsrf1sr to any yshing with life ia il: II
ihs latte. they Rrs carried IA saa wls