CHAPTERTE!

WARFARE!
General Observations — Specific Accounts

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

RIOR to the establishment of British rule, there was con-
siderable warfare among the coastal tribes of British
Columbia. Long-continued struggles leading to the extermi-
nation of one or other of the participants were unknown, but
there were constant raids, counter-raids, forays, and attacks.
These were never as continuous as on the Plains, where martial
achievements were regarded more highly than on the coast,
but it appears probable that at least several villages of the
Bella Coola were embroiled every few years. Nevertheless,
war was secondary in importance to ceremonial rites. During
the winter, peace reigned and members of hostile tribes were
even received as guests at some dances. At potlatches they
might be subjected to insult, later to be avenged in the same
manner or by active hostility, but seldom was actual violence
offered either to envoys or guests. The symbol of peace and
friendliness was eagle down; the occupants of a canoe who
bore an invitation to a potlatch, or who were guests them-
selves, used to blow this substance up into the air whenever
another craft approached, and it was incumbent on the latter
to veer over to the other side of the channel. Eagle down was
considered to be so sacred that when two men were quarrelling
a chief could stop them by blowing some of it over their heads.
In winter, hostilities were prevented by ceremonies, and in
summer the people were usually busy laying in supplies of food;
consequently, it was only in the late spring that fighting was
at allcommon. Even then the dictates of ceremonial life were
not entirely forgotten; no kusiut novice went to war and
iWarfare having long been discontinued, the past tense is used throughout this
chapter.
338