n 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 ar