[sapir] social organization OF THE WEST COAST TRIBES 361 



a whale which has drifted on to the tribal shore; but also, and indeed 

 more characteristically, many purely ceremonial or other non-material 

 rights. It is these which form the most important outward expression 

 of high rank, and their unlawful use by those not entitled to them was 

 certain in every case to bring about violent friction and not infrequently 

 actual bloodshed. One of the most important of these privileges is 

 the right to use certain carvings or paintings, nearly always con- 

 nected with the legendary history of the family which the chief 

 represents. We shall have somewhat more to say of these crests 

 later; here I wish to point out that from our present point of view 

 the crests are but one of the many privileges that are associated with 

 high rank. A further indication of such rank is the right to use 

 certain names. The right to the use of any name is, properly speaking, 

 determined by descent, and the names which have come to be looked 

 upon as higher in rank than others naturally descend only to those 

 that are of high birth. These names comprise not only such as are 

 applied to individuals and of which a large number, some of higher, 

 others of lower rank, are at the disposal of the nobleman; but also 

 names that he has the exclusive right to apply to his slaves, to his 

 house, very often to particular features of his house, such as carved 

 posts and beams, and in some cases even names applied to movable 

 objects such as canoes or particularly prized harpoon-heads or other 

 implements. Further indicative of rank is the right to perform 

 particular dances both in secular feasts or potlatches and, though 

 perhaps to a som.ewhat less extent, also at ritualistic performances. 



Perhaps the clearest outward manifestation of rank is in the place 

 given a chief whenever it is necessary to arrange in some order the 

 various participants in a public function. Thus, in a public feast or 

 potlatch, those of high rank are seated in certain parts of the house 

 that are preserved exclusively for the nobility. These are the rear 

 of the house and the halves of the sides which are nearest the rear. 

 These seats are graded as to rank, and it is perhaps not too much to 

 surmise that the obvious grading made visible to the eye by a definite 

 manner of seating at feasts was in a large measure responsible for the 

 extension of the idea of grading of ranks and privileges generally. 

 The exact seat of honor differed somewhat with the different tribes. 

 In some it was the centre of the rear; in others that seat on the right 

 side of the house, as one faces the door, which was nearest the corner. 

 Other arrangements into series which could give a concrete idea of 

 the ranking enjoyed by an individual are the order in which gifts 

 are distributed to the chiefs at a potlatch; furthermore, the order in 

 which they are called out when invited by a representative of another 

 tribe to attend a feast which is to be given some time in the near 



