406 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [eth. ann. 31 



The method of roasting olachen and of treating the first salmon is 

 obviously a ceremony intended to secure good luck; it will be found 

 described on pp. 449^150. 



Berries put up in sea-lion bladders, and meat put up in bags (94), 

 are used as provisions on journeys on foot. 



Rich and Poor Food. — Very commonly an enumeration occurs of 

 what is called rich food. For instance, whale, sea lion, seal, halibut, 

 and other kinds of fish (184); fresh spring salmon, berries, mountain- 

 goat meat and fat, and grizzly-bear fat (1S2); meat and tallow of all 

 kinds of animals (244): dried salmon and berries mixed with grease, 

 elderberries, currants; and others of a similar kind. Hemlock sap 

 (193) and salmon backs (N 189) were considered poor food. 



Meals. — Meals consist generally of two courses. In great feasts 

 more courses are mentioned. Generally the first course is dried 

 spring salmon (73, 91, 94, 179, 293, N 190). The dried salmon is 

 roasted, cut, or broken in pieces, and placed in a wooden dish (85-86) . 

 Generally oil is served with the salmon, and it is eaten by dipping 

 the piece of salmon into the oil (90). Sometimes the first course 

 consists of fresh boiled salmon (1S2, 183), also of meat and soup 

 (183). After the salmon has been eaten, water is passed about, 

 and the people drink (86). This custom is explained in the story of 

 the visit of the prince to the Salmon chief (195). The second 

 course consists generally of fruits and oil. Preserved crabapples and 

 oil are mentioned (73, 86, N 190), blueberries and other berries 

 (183), soaked dried berries mixed with fresh berries (293), fresh 

 salmonberries and grizzly-bear fat (183). In a feast described on 

 179, fat meat of mountain goats and various kinds of fresh berries are 

 given last. Other dishes served as a second course are seal blubber 

 with oil (90), boiled dried meat (91), salmon eggs (91). Fruits 

 and salmon eggs are eaten with wooden spoons (91) or horn spoons 

 (86). 



In a few cases the number of courses is described as greater. Thus 

 on 179 the order of the courses is dried spring salmon, mountain-goat 

 meat, fresh berries; on 94, roasted dried spring salmon, boiled dried 

 meat, fresh meat steamed in a hole in the ground; in N 193 it is said 

 that visitors were given crabapples and oil, various kinds of berries, 

 and meat and fat, and last of all soapberries. 



People when out hunting sometimes seem to have eaten only a 

 single course. In N 135 a seal feast is described without any par- 

 ticular mention of other courses. 



The meal was prepared either by the slaves (85) or by the wife of 

 the house owner. The woman prepared ordinary meals for her hus- 

 band (78). In feasts the young men of the chief's clan served the 

 food (276). 



