250 SOCIAL EVOLUTION 



of descent from the totem as an integral part of the 

 totemic system is absent in British Columbia. 27 



The taboo is not associated with totemism among the 

 British Columbian tribes. 28 After the birth of a child 

 the woman must not eat any fresh meat for a period of 

 from six months to one year. The husband must not 

 eat or touch the flesh of any animal for at least a day 

 after it has been killed. Twins are considered trans- 

 formed salmon; and as the children of salmon they are 

 guarded against going near the water for fear that they 

 will be retransfonned into salmon. Their mother's marks 

 are regarded as the scars of wounds which they received 

 when they were struck by a harpoon while still having 

 the shape of a salmon. 29 The Kwakiutl do not eat deer, 

 because that would make them forgetful. Thus we see 

 that the relation of the people to their crest is one of 

 historical association, rather than one of descent; and 

 taboo is not here an important feature of totemism. 



The ceremonial life of the British Columbian Indians is 

 quite elaborate. When an Indian kills an animal the 

 element of propitiation is usually strongly emphasized. 

 Having killed a bear, the Lillooet hunter sings a mourn- 

 ing song as follows: "You died first, greatest of animals. 

 We respect you and will treat you accordingly. No 

 woman shall eat your flesh; no dogs shall insult you. 

 May the lesser animals follow you, and die by our traps, 

 snares, and arrows! May we now kill much game, and 

 may the goods of those we gamble with follow us and 

 come into our possession! May the goods of those we 

 play lehal with become completely ours, even as an ani- 



27 Goldenweiser, op. cit., p. 18. 



28 Ibid., p. 22. 



2 Boas, British Assoc. Adv. of /Set., vol. 59, 5th. Kept., p. 51. 



