boas] DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMSHIAN 425 



and the husband's father are of course mutual; and as we heard 

 before of the father and the relatives of a woman giving food to tho 

 husband's relatives, so we hear also of the man's father giving prop- 

 erty to the relatives of his daughter-in-law. One rather character- 

 istic passage tells us that the mother-in-law of a young man does 

 not dare to look angry wheu her son-in-law, whom she does not like, 

 acts against her wishes (303). 



Son-in-law. — There are two stories of the tests of the son-in-law 

 (1.89, N 130) which center in the idea that the girl's father tries to 

 overcome his daughter's suitors. In the further development of this 

 theme, the young man finally gains the love of his father-in-law 

 (1.107). After a clandestine marriage, thefather welcomes his son- 

 in-law, and asks his daughter to accompany him to a seat by the fire 

 (1.117). In the story of Chief Peace (214) the relation between the 

 chief and his son-in-law is that of mutual love. The chief mourns for 

 him when he dies, and revives him. I have not found any indication 

 of the mother-in-law taboo. 



Uncle and Nephew. — Since in the social organization of the Tsim- 

 v shian the relation between a man and his sister's children is particu- 

 larly intimate, it is not surprising that we find many references to 

 the relations between the chief and his nephews. The chief orders 

 his nephews to build a new house (116), to get fuel (116), and to 

 make fire (226). On 154 we are told that a chief tainess had many 

 brothers who loved their nephew. A number of nephews offer to 

 accompany their uncle on a dangerous journey (335). The uncle 

 invites his nephew (189); a man's adopted daughter is given in mar- 

 riage to one of his nephews (267); a chief leaves his name and prop- 

 erty to his nephew (295); he is ashamed because his nephews are 

 overcome in a contest (119). Nephews (viz, a sister's daughter's 

 sons) are mentioned as successors to the chief's place (258, 314), and 

 the nephew whose good will is desired is asked to marry his uncle's 

 daughter (231, N 184). On 224 a man marries in a certain village, 

 and for this reason all his nephews desire to marry in the same vil- 

 lage. On 284 a woman asks her Bear children to provide food for 

 their younger uncle; that is to say, for her younger brother. 



On the other hand, rivalry between uncle and nephew is a marked 

 element in some of the tales. A chief's nephew makes love to the 

 chief's wife (214) ; a poor orphaned nephew is maltreated by his uncle 

 (N 137); four uncles maltreat a girl returning from the woods, whose 

 parents had died (1.167) ; and uncles maltreat their nephew, following 

 his father's orders (225). Only the youngest uncle is merciful (1.167). 

 At another place (244) we read of a boy being compelled to go with 

 his uncles against his will. 



Parentsand Children. — It is rather striking that inhardly any of these 

 cases is there any mention of an intimate love between tho uncle and 



