IMPLEMENTS AND WEAPONS OF GEAHAM ISLAND. 47 



In revising Mr. Mackenzie's notes for publication, his original orthography of nearly- 

 all the native names has been retained unchanged, but in a few places some remarks 

 which appear to be imnecessary, because (;overed by what is already published, have been 

 omitted. 



G-EORGE M. Dawson. 



Dance Staff (Haida Ti(sk). — A ceremonial staff of this kind was formerly used at feasts, 

 dances and distributions of property. The principal man concerned in the ceremony, by 

 forcibly tapping the floor with such a staff or baton, called the attention of the audience 

 to the business immediately in hand. At feasts where property or blankets were given, 

 or paid away, a significant tap of this staff intimated that the transaction was closed, 

 resembling much the tap of an auctioneer's hammer on a bargain being concluded. The 

 carved devices of crane, whale, crow, owl, and bear, with which it has been ornamented, 

 refer to tribal legends. 



The proprietorship of svxch a stafl' of course shewed that the owner was an Eitlahgeet 

 or chief, who had made the necessary feasts and distributions of property to entitle him 

 to that dignity. The staff was always carefully preserved in a safe place in the owner's 

 lodge. [No. 1339.]' Several somewhat similar staffs are figured by Mr. Niblack (plate 

 xvii.) 



Woven Hals (Haida Haht-ul-sung-ah) . — These are made of spruce roots, and were both 

 plain and painted, the shape being that common along the coast of British Columbia and 

 frequently illustrated. One of these hats [No. 1835] is of more than ordinary dimensions 

 [diameter 23 inches], and is of the kind worn only on the occasion of a distribution of 

 property, the wearer then having on also a "dance blanket," and holding in the hand a 

 staff, of the kind just noted. Such costume was suitable for either male or female. The 

 devices painted on these hats seem to have been a matter of fancy, and to have had no 

 particular significance. The dog-fish, whale, crow or bear were often represented on 

 them. [Nos. 1333 to 1335.] 



Large woven and pieced Dance-Blanket (Haida Na-liung) — This is a specimen of the 

 dance-blanket or covering almost universallj^ used at feasts, dances and ceremonials by 

 the native tribes of the coast. Such blankets were made only by the Chilkats of the 

 Alaskan coast, and although often called Haida blankets, the term is erroneous, as the 

 Haida never practised the art of weaving wool or hair. These blankets were, however 

 highly valued by the Haida, and any one aspiring to the position of chief was expected 

 to possess one such elaborate covering. Now they are rare, having been eagerly sought 

 after by collectors. The devices are similar to those on Haida carvings, indeed the orna- 

 mentation of the latter seems by all evidence to have been copied from the tribes of 

 Northern Alaska. The material used in making these blankets is mountain goat's wool 

 and cedar bark. [No. 1374.] 



Dance Head-dress (Haida Tsilk). — Ornamental head-dresses of this kind are used in 

 ceremonial dances by the tribes of the Northwest Coast. An excellent illustration in 



' The numbers thus given throufihout, are those under which Ihe objects specially referred to are catalogued 

 in the Museum of the Geological Survey. Some of them are figured in the accompanying plates. 



