CAMP FIRES IN THE YUKON 155 



The chief must purchase from two to three hundred 

 blankets from the Indian traders, and as this in- 

 volves an expense of about twelve hundred dollars 

 he must have had a successful trapping season in 

 order to finance the social duties of his position. 

 Having provided the blankets, he sends runners to 

 the various bands and families, inviting them to at- 

 tend the " potlatch " on a certain day at a fixed 

 place, and in the meantime the chief and his family 

 kill many caribou, moose, and sheep for the tribal 

 fest. 



On the designated day the members of the tribe 

 come together and erect their tents, the meat is 

 roasted before immense fires, and at evening the 

 entire tribe shoot off rifles to start the celebration 

 which precedes the big feast. Then the chief 

 " makes big talk " to the tribe, and completes his 

 part in the play by presenting every one with blan- 

 kets, after which there is much dancing. This con- 

 tinues for several days, or, to be exact, until the 

 meat supply runs out, when the various families de- 

 part to their trapping grounds, leaving the chief im- 

 poverished, but conscious of having performed his 

 social obligations. 



Albert voiced his views as to chieftainship as 

 follows : " Chief all time poor, all time give pot- 

 latch; me not be chief." However, the writer has 

 by suggestion planted a seed in the Indian's mind 

 that may grow into a new custom, as I have pointed 



