72 ANCIENT WARRIORS

deceased was being made ready for burial on the night
after his death. At this gathering they recounted the
brave deeds and virtues of the deceased.

Offences and Punishments

Theft.—The Haidas had a peculiar custom in dealing
with a thief. If the person who lost an article suspected
anyone, he would, during the night, place a wooden
dish or tray on the doorstep of the suspected thief’s
house, and if his suspicion was well founded, he would
go for his tray on the night following and thereon would
find his lost property. Having received it, nothing
further was said, and the matter ended.

Before the advent of Europeans, theft was very rare,
and the old chiefs declared that theft was a most
heinous crime. Experiments were made by leaving
knives and hatchets sticking in logs on the beach where
they could be easily seen in order to test their honesty,
and months after they were still there, although scores
of Haidas must have seen them as they passed.

On one occasion a boy and girl, slaves of a chief,
were persuaded to break into the Hudson Bay Com-
pany’s store and steal a bottle of candy, which they
distributed to their playmates. The manager the next
morning discovered a broken window and found that
some of his candy had disappeared. He made inquiries
and the culprits were soon found. He did not wish to
prosecute but asked that the culprits should receive
corporal punishment at the school, and this was carried
out. Several days after the children were punished, a
deputation of the principal Haidas requested the
dismissal of the teacher who was the owner of the slaves,
because the young people had broken into the store;
they alleged that this would not have occurred if he had