36 . REPORT—1890.

THE POTLATCH.

The custom of giving great feasts, at which a large amount of pro-
perty is distributed, is common to the Nootka and all their neighbours.
The principle underlying the potlatch is that each man who has received
a present becomes, to double the amount he received, the debtor of
the giver. Potlatches are celebrated at all important events. The
purchase-money of a wife belongs to this class also, as it is returned to the
purchaser after a certain lapse of time (see below). After the death
of a chief, his heir is not installed in his dignity until he has given a
great potlatch. If he is to be the chief of the whole tribe the neighbour-
ing tribes are invited to take part in the potlatch. The taking of aname —
and that of a dance (see p. 48) are also celebrated by a potlatch. This —
custom is practically the same among all the tribes of the north-west
coast. When a chief has to give a great potlatch toa neighbouring
tribe, he announces his intention, and the tribe resolve in council when
the festival is to be given. A messenger is sent out to give notice of the
sntention of the chief to hold a potlatch at the agreed time. - When all
preparations have been finished, and the time has come, another
messenger, called ia/tsetl, is sent out to invite the guests to come to the
festival. The guests come in their canoes, and when not far from the
village they halt and dress up at their nicest, smearing their faces with
tallow and then painting with red colour. Then the canoes proceed to
the village in grand procession, their bows being abreast. At this time
certain songs are sung, each tribe having its own song. When they are
seen to approach, the tribe who have invited them go down to the beach.
The chief’s son or daughter is attired in the dress and mask of the crest
animal of the sept, and performs a dance in honour of the guests. The
saltsetl next calls the name of the head chief of the visitors, and he comes
ashore. Then the others are called according to rank. They are led
into the chief’s house, after having received one or two blankets when
landing. On entering the house they are also given a few blankets.
The guests are feasted first by the chief and then by all other members
of the tribe who can afford it. Finally, after a number of feasts have
been given, the chief prepares for the potlatch, and under great cere-
monies and dances the blankets are distributed among the guests, each
receiving according to his rank. At the potlatch certain songs are sung.
Each chief has a song of his own that is only sung at his feasts. Here is
the song of the T's’éca/ath sept, sung when its chief gives a potlatch :—

Solo. Chorus.
pf ee = ——-
ho4 EE a aE
ry as 2 a iri@s alee Se Se SE
Ha-wa-wi - na - yi ha-wa-wi - na-yi ha -wa-wi - na-yi
eating Dagte | e8 &e.!

1 The batons used in beating time are raised at the heavy parts of the bar: this
accounts for the peculiar rhythm given above.