176 THE BIG CANOE

It was a ceremony Yulan had. always loved to
watch, but to-day, from his vantage-point on the spit,
where he could face the Haida singers, it was more
wonderful than ever before. The Haidas were fine
musicians; there were no songs so beautiful as theirs.

As the visitors approached the beach, slaves ran
into the water, bearing huge copper shields, the most
valued possessions of the chief. These, according to
custom, were cast into the water in front of the ad-
vancing canoes—to show the wealth and power of the
Haida chief as well as to honor the visitors. It was
but a symbol, for at low tide the shields would be
recovered and taken back to the chief’s lodge.