Page:Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines.djvu/93

 Lewis and Clarke often state the number of inhabitants with the number of houses, thus:

 "The Killamucks, who number fifty houses and a thousand souls." "The Chilts, who * * * are estimated at seven hundred souls and thirty-eight houses." "The Clamoitomish, of twelve houses and two hundred and sixty souls." "The Potoashees, often houses and two hundred souls." "The Pailsk, of ten houses and two hundred souls." "The Quinults, of sixty houses and one thousand souls."

Speaking generally of the usages and customs of the tribes of the "Columbia plains," they make the following statements: "Their large houses usually contain several families, consisting of the parents, their sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren, among whom the provisions are common, and whose harmony is scarcely ever interrupted by disputes. Although polygamy is permitted by their customs, very few have more than a single wife, and she is brought immediately after the marriage into the husband's family, where she resides until increasing numbers oblige them to seek another house In this state the old man is not considered the head of the family, since the active duties, as well as the responsibility, fall on some of the younger members. As these families gradually expand into bands, or tribes, or nations, the paternal authority is represented by the chief of each association. This chieftain, however, is not hereditary." Here we find among the Columbian tribes, as elsewhere, communism in living, but restricted to large households composed of several families.

A writer in Harper's Magazine, speaking of the Aleutians, remarks: "When first discovered this people were living in large yourts, or dirt houses, partially underground, * * * having the entrances through a hole in the top or centre, going in and out on a rude ladder. Several of these ancient yourts were very large, as shown by the ruins, being from thirty to eighty yards long and twenty to forty in width. * * * In these large yourts the primitive Aleuts lived by fifties and hundreds for the double object of protection and warmth."