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Page 59
The salubrity of the climate, however, renders disease of every kind
extremely rare, except such as are caused by the excesses of the
natives themselves. The venereal is very common, and appears to have
been indigenous. At their feasts they gorge themselves to such a
degree as to endanger their lives; after a feast many of the guests
continue ill for a considerable time, yet this does not prevent them
from gormandizing again whenever an opportunity presents itself. Old
and young, male and female, are subject to severe inflammation in the
eyes, chiefly, I believe, from their passing the winter in hovels
underground, which have no outlet for the smoke, and passing from them
into the glare of sunshine upon the snow. What with the confined smoke
and tainted atmosphere of these abominable burrows, I found it painful
to remain even for a few minutes in them.
It has been remarked by those who first settled in the district, that
the Indians are rapidly decreasing in numbers since their arrival--a
fact which does not admit of a doubt: I myself have seen many villages
and encampments without an inhabitant. But what can be the cause of
it? Here there has been neither rum nor small-pox--the scourges of
this doomed race in other parts. Yet, on the banks of the Columbia,
which, when first visited by the whites a few years ago, literally
swarmed with Indians, a disease broke out which nearly exterminated
them. Has the fiat, then, gone forth, that the aboriginal inhabitants
of America shall make way for another race of men? To my mind, at
least, the question presents not the shadow of a doubt. The existence
of the present race of Indians at some future, and by no means distant
period, will only be known through the historical records of their
successors.
The Takellies do not use canoes on their hunting excursions, so that
they are necessitated to carry all their conveniences on their backs;
and it is astonishing to see what heavy loads they can carry,
especially the women, on whom the transport duty generally devolves.
Among this tribe, however, the women are held in much higher
consideration than among other Indians: they assist at the councils,
and some ladies of distinction are even admitted to the feasts. This
consideration they doubtless owe to the efficient aid they afford in
procuring the means of subsistence. The one sex is as actively
employed during the fishing season as the other. The men construct the
weirs, repair them when necessary, and capture the fish; the women
split them up--a most laborious operation when salmon is
plentiful--suspend them on the scaffolds, attend to the drying, &c.
They also collect berries, and dig up the edible roots that are found
in the country, and which are of great service in years of scarcity.
Thus the labour of the women contributes as much to the support of the
community as that of the men.
The men are passionately addicted to gambling, staking everything they
possess, and continuing at it night and day, until compelled to desist
by sheer hunger, or by the loss of all. I could not understand their
game; we, in fact, used our best endeavours to abolish the pernicious
custom, and, to avoid countenancing it, were as seldom present as
possible. It is played with a few small sticks, neatly carved, with a
certain number of marks upon them, tied up in a small bundle of hay,
which the player draws out successively, throws up and catches between
his hands; and when all are drawn, they are taken up one by one, and
dashed against a piece of parchment, and rolled up again in the hay.
The whole party appear merry enough at the commencement of the game,
all joining chorus in a song, and straining their lungs to such a
degree, that hoarseness soon ensues, when they continue their
amusement in silence. When the game is ended, some of them present a
sad spectacle; coming forth, their hair dishevelled, their eyes
bloodshot, and faces ghastly pale, with probably nothing to cover
their nakedness, save perhaps an old siffleux robe, which the winner
may be generous enough to bestow. They never shoot or hang themselves,
let their luck be ever so bad, but sometimes shoot the winning party.
Dogs, if not held sacred, are at least as much esteemed by them as
their own kindred. I have known an instance of a quadruped of the
cynic sect being appointed successor to a biped chief, and discharging
the duties of his office with the utmost gravity and decorum;
appearing at the feast given in honour of his deceased predecessor,
and furnishing his quota--(this of course by proxy)--of the
provisions. This dog-chief was treated by his owner with as much
regard as if he had been his child! All, indeed, treat their dogs with
the greatest respect, calling them by the most endearing
epithets:--"Embark, my son;" "Be quiet, my child;" "Don't bark at the
white men, they will not harm you."
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