THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 345 



The purchase of a high-priced copper is an elaborate ceremony, which 

 must be described in detail. The trade is discussed and arranged long 

 beforehand. When the buyer is ready, he gives to the owner of the 

 copper blankets about one-sixth of the total value of the copper. This 

 is called ''•making a i)illow" for the cop])er (qc'nullLa); or "making 

 a feather bed" (ta'lqoa) or "the harpoon line at which game is hang- 

 ing " (do'xsEmt), meaning that in the same manner the copper is 

 attached to the long line of blankets; or "taken in the hand, in order 

 to lift the copper'' (da/g-ilclEui). The owner of the copper loans these 

 blankets out, and when he has called them in again, he repays the total 

 amount received, with 100 i)er cent interest, to the purchaser. On the 

 following (lay the tribes assemble for the sale of the copper. The pre- 

 scribed proceeding is as follows: The buyer offers first the lowest 

 prices at which the copper was sokl. The owner declares that he is 

 satisfied, but his friends demand by degrees higher and higher prices, 

 according to all the previous sales of the copper. This is called g-i'na. 

 Finally, the amount offered is deemed satisfactory. Then the owner 

 asks for boxes to carry away the bhmkets. These are counted five 

 pairs a box, and are also paid in blankets or other objects. After 

 these have been paid, the owner of the copper calls his friends — mem- 

 bers of his own tribe- — to rise, and asks for a belt, which he values at 

 several hundred blankets. While these are being brought, he and his 

 tribe generally repair to their house, where they paint their faces and 

 dress in new blankets. When they have finished, drums are beaten in 

 the house, they all shout " hi ! " and go out again, the speaker of the seller 

 first. As soon as the latter has left the house, he turns and calls his 

 chief to come down, who goes back to where the sale is going on, fol- 

 lowed by his tribe. They all stand in a row and the buyer puts down 

 the blankets which w^ere demanded as a belt, " to adorn the owner of the 

 copper.'' This whole i)urchase is called "putting the copi)er under the 

 name of the buyer" (La/sa). 



In this i)roceeding the blankets are placed in piles of moderate 

 height, one pile close to the other, so that they occupy a considerable 

 amount of space. In Fort Rupert there are two high i)osts on the 

 beach bearing carved figures on top, betweeu which the blankets are 

 thus i)i]e(l (Plate o). They stand about 40 steps apart. 



On the following day all the blankets which have been paid for the 

 copper must be distril)uted by the owner among his own tribe, paying 

 to them his old debts first, and, if the amount is sufficient, giving new 

 presents. This is called "doing a great thing" (wa'lasila). 



Coppers are always sold to rivals, and often a man will offer his cop- 

 jjer for sale to the rival tribe. If it is iiot accepted, it is an acknowl- 

 edgment that nobody in the tribe has money enough to buy it, and 

 the name of the tribe or clan would consequently lose in weight. 

 Therefore, if a man is willing to accept the offer, all the members of 

 the tribe must assist him in this undertaking with loans of blankets. 



