Early in the morning they all start out without eating, and cut the
small pines that are from two to three inches through at the butt
ends. Some will make a fire, and as the others are cutting and packing
in they will take the green pine poles and run them through the fire
until they are scorched then take them out and the bark is peeled off
easily. While they are yet hot they split each one in two and four
pieces, then others get long hazel withes and run them through the fire
and while they are hot split them in two pieces, then they take them
and the pine pieces and plat them together like mats, leaving the pine
sticks about one and two inches apart, these mats when set upon end
are about nine feet long, with five or six hazel withes about fourteen
inches apart. After they get a mat put together they roll it up, making
each mat so that one man can pack it on his shoulder and at a given
time they all carry them down to the river to the place where the fish
dam is to be put in. Others get the posts which are about eleven feet
long and five or six inches through, they are all sharpened at one end
and made very smooth, all the bark being taken off. Some get the long
pole-beams or girders which are from twenty to twenty-four feet long
and about six or seven inches through with the bark taken off. The girl
that carries the true name of God is, during the day, in the lodge or
house that is used only on these occasions. This house was kept in
good condition at all times but no one lives in it, except on these
occasions, also the sweat-house that Lock sleeps in while this work
is going on. In the evening, about dusk, after all the workers have
retired for the day, she quietly goes out and crosses the river, as
Lock’s helper at this time is watching for her and takes the canoe over
to take her where Lock is concealed under the large rock close to the
bank of the river, and she gathers a quantity of dry wood by which Lock
keeps a small fire burning all through the day and on which he burns
incense. Lock keeps out of sight of all the workers as they do not
want to see him and avoid doing so. Lock gives orders to his helper,
directing him so that he can deliver the orders to the different
companies of workers. This helper is one that has the birth but has not
the secret of the true name of God. Lock gives him all the orders in a
low whisper, and this helper is called Lock-ee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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