Pacific Coast and Islands 179 



tooed when I first went amongst them, and these 

 reminded me strongly of the Maories of New 

 Zealand, but a few of these who now remain are 

 ashamed of the disfigurement, especially on 

 embracing Christianity. When the potlatch 

 took place these men who had been thus tattooed 

 were rewarded by receiving blankets or other 

 property proportionate to the honour which they 

 had thus rendered to the chief. But yet worse 

 practices were sometimes resorted to in the 

 erection of the totem at a great potlatch. 

 It was not uncommon formerly, when the 

 opening had been dug out in which the totem 

 was to be erected, to bind one or more slaves, 

 either males or females, and cast them alive 

 into the opening. Then, amidst shouting and 

 clamour which drowned the cries of the victims, 

 the great totem was hoisted up into position by 

 hundreds of helpers and the opening around it 

 filled in with stones and earth firmly beaten 

 down.&quot; 



The use of &quot;swan s down&quot; as a symbol and swan Do\vn 

 pledge of goodwill and friendship is, I believe, 

 limited to the Indians of the Pacific Coast. Our 

 author says: 



&quot;A great feast had been prepared for the visitors 

 in the houses of the leading chiefs, and to this 

 they led, preceded by the dancers. On entering, 

 great fires of logs piled several feet in height, 

 diffused a glow of heat around, and the blaze was 

 intensified by slaves pouring seal-oil and olachan 

 grease in large quantities upon the fires. The 



