142 THE BIG CANOE

Crazy One! No longer would they call him by that
hated name when they learned from the trader of
those strange-acting people in that far country of the
Yetz Haada—those clowns. He would be something
new among the Haidas, like the guns and kettles and
pans and tools and clothes brought in by the white
traders. Skai the Clown! He would rather be called
that than Skai the Hunter, Skai the Fisherman, or
Skai the Carver! He would be perfectly happy if they
called him Skai the Clown!

When Skai came out of the building into the back
yard, Tahn snarled angrily at sight of the strange face
and costume. Not until Skai had talked to him and
petted him and given him candy was he quieted and
even then he was uneasy. After an hour or so, how-
ever, he grew used to this new master and performed
just as willingly and obediently as usual.

“You are going to surprise those Haidas at the
potlatch,” the trader laughed as Skai and the bear de-
parted for the night. “They will think you are old
Kali Koustli himself. Even the chief is going to be
upset when he sees you.”

The potlatch was the greatest celebration of all
among the Haidas. The important chiefs gave pot-
latches to celebrate all sorts of royal ceremonies,
such as the erection of a totem or memorial pole, the
bestowal of a crest or name upon a young chieftain,
or the marriage of a princess.

At these potlatches, everything that the chief and