Official report of the exploration of the Queen Charlotte Islands | Page 6

a
feat, springing from the top of a great rock, where the ocean was
breaking. They are intelligent and quick to learn from observation.

There are, probably, more well formed and featured people among the
Hydas than any other aboriginal race, though there are none which can
be considered handsome; indeed I have never seen an Indian beauty,
nor an adult Indian woman of graceful movement. Black hair and eyes,
white teeth and occasionally a rich olive complexion are their chief
attractions. The Indian ages rapidly and are shorter lived than the
whites. They suffer most from pulmonary and venereal diseases, the
faces of many being scarred by the latter in its worst forms. Small pox
has also destroyed them by the hundreds.
* * * * *
Dress--Ornaments. Etc.
The Hydas have so far adopted the dress of the whites, that with the
exception of blankets--still much worn by both sexes at their homes,
and dancing suits--their original costumes are now seldom seen. The
blanket has been substituted for the sea-otter cloak, trousers and dresses
for the breech cloth, and leather undergarments by woven ones. The
men wear hats, but the women very rarely; a handkerchief or shawl
being their most common head covering. Some of the elderly women,
however, wear large hats of the Chinese pattern, braided by them from
the roots of the spruce tree. The women are very fond of bright, striking
colors; though many exhibit considerable taste by the selection of dark
shades, suited to their complexion. The men are quite as much inclined
to over-dress as the women, when they have the means. On one of the
hottest days of summer, I saw an Indian parading through the village of
Skidegate, dressed in a full suit of black, including a heavy beaver
Ulster. Both men and women generally go with barefeet, except when
engaged in some occupation away from home, which exposes them to
injury.
Nearly all the adults are tattooed upon the arms and legs, many upon
the breasts, and occasionally one upon the face. The designs usually
represent tribal and family crests and totem. The practice is being
gradually discontinued. The face is generally painted for dances, by the
women when mourning, and frequently by both sexes when travelling,
to protect it from the effects of the sun and wind, Vermillion, the

fungus of trees, burnt and ground, common charcoal, deer tallow, and
spruce gum are used for this purpose. Labrets--pieces of wood, bone or
shell, from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length--are worn by a few old females,
but this hideous, monstrosity is now never found upon the young
women. Many of the middle-aged, however, pierce the centre of the
lower lip and insert a small silver tube, which projects about a quarter
of an inch. Both sexes perforate the septum of the nose for rings, but I
have only seen two worn by the Hydas, and these were silver. The
medicine men, while performing their dances, sometimes insert a
semi-circular bone from eight to ten inches in length. They are very
fond of ornaments, which are used in profusion, especially upon their
dance and ceremonial dresses and robes, and by the females upon their
persons. I saw a woman at Skidegate with sixteen silver rings upon her
hands, and two or three heavy silver bracelets are quite commonly
worn. Feathers, mother-of-pearl buttons, puffin bills, abalone, dentalum
and other shells, silver pieces, and deer toes, are among their favorite
articles of adornment.
* * * * *
Manners and Customs.
The Indian generally, is an ill-mannered brute, who steals into your
presence without warning, handles whatever he sees without
permission, smokes if you allow it, and seldom, especially if a
middle-aged or old woman, leaves you without begging a potlatch. He
exhibits very little deferential respect for his superiors, seldom
expresses gratitude for favors, and more rarely does them without
expecting compensation. At their homes, however, there is much to be
commended in their conduct. There they are generally quiet and
peaceable, converse in low tones, and treat their children with kindness.
There is a noticeable difference in favor of the deportment of those
Hydas of Massett and Skidegate who have come under the influence of
missionary training.
* * * * *
Domestic Relations.

The Hydas generally enter the marriage state in early youth, the
females frequently between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. Matches
are often arranged by the parents before the children are old enough to
choose for themselves. In such cases when of suitable age, the young
man and woman begin to live together without other ceremony than a
mutual agreement and understanding between them and their relatives,
and the bestowal of presents and dowry upon the bride. When the
parties make their own selections, which is now oftenest done,