154 CAMP FIRES IN THE YUKON 



went to bring in the head of the moose we had shot 

 two days ago. While stalking up the tundra for 

 the caribou the blizzard resumed its sway with in- 

 creased power, and the game was entirely hidden in 

 the blinding snow; however, I continued to the top, 

 in hope of blundering into the herd, but the animals 

 evidently got my wind, as I saw nothing more of 

 them. 



After Albert's return we sat down for a " big 

 feed " upon the last of our caribou, and then, piling 

 our fire four feet high with logs, reclined on our 

 robes beneath the brush shelter and prepared to 

 spend a sociable evening exchanging ideas. Albert 

 is the eldest son of the tribal chieftain, who is of 

 advanced age and who will be succeeded by his 

 eldest son, but Albert tells me he has made up his 

 mind to decline the honor in favor of " Rabbit," his 

 brother. I have pressed my companion on this mat- 

 ter, and learn that the chief is a man who settles all 

 disputes between the members of the tribe and 

 whose decisions on any matter are not only re- 

 spected but are final. However, there is no mate- 

 rial advantage in being chief, since the tribe does not 

 in any way contribute to his support, and the honor 

 is an empty one, made the more empty by reason 

 of the fact that custom decrees the chief shall each 

 year give a " potlatch." 



This " potlatch " is a party given to the whole 

 tribe, with the chieftain playing the part of host. 



