[71] I have more than once discussed the identity of this animal with Indian traders. None of them recognised it, nor, indeed, were acquainted with the animal by the name Jewitt applies to it. It is, however, not unlikely the North-Western marmot (_Arctomys pruinosus_), specimens of which are now and then--though, it must be admitted, rarely--seen in Vancouver Island; but it is more common farther south. The Alberni Indians (Seshahts and Opechesahts) used to talk of a beast called _Sit-si-tehl_, which we took to be the marmot, and Mr. Sproat saw one; I was not so fortunate. [72] In the opinion of the judicious Jewitt, every one who has eaten food--especially salmon and shell-fish--cooked after this fashion will coincide. _Experto crede._ [73] Or to one or more of the neighbouring tribes, such feasts being known as _Wawkoahs_. CHAPTER VII APPEARANCE OF THE NATIVES--ORNAMENTS--OTTER-HUNTING--FISHING--CANOES In point of personal appearance the people of Nootka are among the best-looking of any of the tribes that I have seen. The men are in general from about five feet six to five feet eight inches in height; remarkably straight, of a good form, robust and strong, with their limbs in general well turned and proportioned, excepting the legs and feet, which are clumsy and ill formed, owing, no doubt, to their practice of sitting on them, though I have seen instances in which they were very well shaped; this defect is more particularly apparent in the women, who are for the most part of the time within doors, and constantly sitting while employed in their cooking and other occupations.[74] The only instance of deformity that I saw amongst them was a man of dwarfish stature; he was thirty years old, and but three feet three inches high; he had, however, no other defect than his diminutive size, being well made, and as strong and able to bear fatigue as what they were in general.[75] Their complexion, when freed from the paint and oil with which their skins are generally covered, is a brown, somewhat inclining to a copper cast. The shape of the face is oval; the features are tolerably regular, the lips being thin and the teeth very white and even; their eyes are black but rather small, and the nose pretty well formed, being neither flat nor very prominent; their hair is black, long, and coarse, but they have no beard, completely extirpating it, as well as the hair from their bodies, Maquina being the only exception, who suffered his beard to grow on his upper lip in the manner of mustachios, which was considered as a mark of dignity.