1892-93.] NOTES ON THE WESTERN DEN^S. ^05 



The Yasilyu had the Sturgeon, the Arrow, the Porcupine, the 

 Wolverine, the Red -headed Woodpecker, the Cattle and the Tdlt'sd, a 

 kind of fabulous animal resembling a gigantic toad, with large, bulging 

 eyes. 



My informants know of only the Goose as belonging to the Tam'tenyu 

 clan. 



Another honorific totem or crest was called Sdnnaj, a word of 

 extraneous origin. The exact nature of this cannot now be defined, as 

 the mimicking accompanying its exhibition is but vaguely remembered. 

 All that is known for certain is that it was very highly appreciated and, 

 as a rule, it was the appanage of the notables exclusively. For here I 

 must remark that even the notables or noblemen were not debarred from 

 assuming one or more of the different honour crests proper to their 

 gens. 



Lujem is another word of forigin origin which designated the Bear as 

 an honorific totem.* It could be assumed by anybody, irrespective of 

 clannish differences. 



The connection of the individual with his crest appeared more 

 especially during ceremonial dances, when the former, attired, if possible, 

 with the spoils of the latter, was wont to personate it in the gaze of an 

 admiring assemblage. On all such occasions, man and totem were also 

 called by the same name. The adoption of any such " rite " or crest, was 

 usually accompanied by initiatory ceremonies or observances correspond- 

 ing to the nature of the crest, followed in all cases by a distribution of 

 clothes to all present. Thus whenever anybody resolved upon getting 

 received as Lu^em or Bear, he would, regardless of the season, divest him- 

 self of all his wearing apparel and don a bear skin, whereupon he would 

 dash into the woods there to remain for the space of three or four days 

 and nights in deference to the wonts of his intended totem animal. 

 Every night a party of his fellow-villagers would sally out in search of 

 the missing "bear." To their loud calls: Yi! Kdlu]einl-\ he would 

 answer by angry growls in imitation of the bear. The searching party 

 making for the spot where he had been heard, would find by a second 

 call followed by a similar answer that he had dexterously shifted to some 

 opposite quarter in the forest. As a rule, he could not be found, but had 

 to come back of himself when he was speedily apprehended and con- 

 ducted to the ceremonial lodge, where he would commence his first bear- 



* The Dene word for Black Bear is ~s3s or 'sas according to the dialect. 



t Words of Tsimpsian parentage meaning apparently : Come on, Bear ! The nature of those 

 words plainly denotes the origin of the whole institution. 



