ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. oe

in rank being given first. The whole tribe possesses its territory in
common. There seem to be no subdivisions of territory belonging to
the various septs. In some instances the tribal boundaries are marked
on the coast by some rock of singular shape.

on two boulders at Vob Point, Barclay
Sound, marks a tribal boundary. It does
not seem that artificial monuments were
made for this purpose. Hach sept-has a
chief whose authority is restricted to his
sept. Only the chief of the sept that is
highest in rank exercises some limited
authority over the whole tribe. What-
ever is found adrift on the sea, as canoes,
paddles, &c., in his territory must be de-
livered to him, and he has to give a pre-
sent for the same to the finder. Animals
found adrift are excluded from this rule.
When a sept goes on a hunting expedition
the chief, if he has not a sufficient number
of canoes, rents them from other septs
and pays the crews. The affairs of the
tribe are discussed and decided in a coun-
cil, in which only the chiefs of the septs
take part. It is called tei’mitl. They de-
cide all important affairs of the tribe, peace
and war, marriages of chiefs’ daughters
and sons, &c. The council also appoint
the herald or orator of the tribe (¢s2/k-sak: tl),
whose services are required in all festivals
given by the tribal chief and in negotia-
tions with other tribes. The decisions of
the council are kept secret. Chiefs alone
are allowed to hunt whales and to act as
harpooners. This accounts for the obser-
vation of Sproat that the right of whaling
and the office of harpooner are hereditary
(p. 116). Chiefs alone are allowed to give
‘potlatches.’ Hach sept has names that
belong exclusively to its members. The
chief and the chief’s wife of each sept

Thus a large rock resting

Fira. 12.—Upright in house of the
Ts’éca’ath gens.

have always a certain name. 1 give here the chief’s names of the

Ts’éca/ath tribe :—

Sept Chief -

1. Ts’éca/ath  . . Wibsusz/nEp
2. Ne’e’asath =. . Ne’e’asath . :
3. Netcimi/asath . Hitatlu’ksois :
4, Waninka’/th . . Haihaiyu’p . :
5. Ma’ktl’aiath . per blaalyuiles

6. Tla/sentiesath . T’a/psit : é
7. Ha’méyisath . . Wéa'tsois . ;
8. Ku'tssEmhaath . Ma’mak‘ha/nek .
9. Kuai’‘ath : . Knuai’ath 3 :

o

Chief’s Wife

. T's’écia/aks.

. Nec’a’saksup.

. Ho0’/pkustaaks.

. Hai'nak-autl.

. Hayuw’poutl.

. Te’ éitle’mek’.

. Hai’kwis.

st baal ttl:

. Kuai/aksup.
#6

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