boas] DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMSHIAK 429 



the girl a member of his own clan; while in the third she takes 

 the place of his (laughter. 



I may mention hero also the statement that a supernatural being 

 who caused the loss of two sisters gave to their parents in return 

 the daughters of one of the sisters, whom he had taken to the sky 

 (303). One of the two lost women, it, seems, was actually reborn as 

 the child of ner sister (303). 



Chiefs, Attendants, Slaves, Council 



Chiefs and their Families. — The chief is the head man of the clan. 

 He has the privilege of using certain names and crests (see p. 41 1), and 

 has also limited social and political rights and duties. On the whole, 

 the chief is represented as taking care of the welfare of the people of 

 his village. 



In ordinary life he takes part in the occupations of the whole tribe, 

 although he has men who may work for him. He goes out fishing 

 with his brothers and his brothers-in-law (285). He asks a guest to 

 go fishing with him (92), and comes back after an unsuccessful fishing- 

 excursion (239). When the chief goes with his tribe to search for 

 beautiful feathers, he is given the first choice (344). Tho chief's sons 

 are expert hunters (161), and for this reason their house is full of 

 grizzly-bear skins (311). The prince makes arrows for hunting (192, 

 225, N 170), and, assisted by his slave, he takes a halibut up to the 

 house from the beach. We hear also of chiefs' nephews or sons-in- 

 law going out to get fuel and to do other service in the house. The 

 chieftainess goes with her maids to pick berries (1.147). She pre- 

 pares a meal for the visitor (N 190). She washes the skin of a white 

 sea otter (1.173). The princess goes out to draw water. Neverthe- 

 less the noble woman is not expected to do hard work (see p. 432). 



On the other hand, the people work for the chief (27S). They fish 

 and pick berries for him (182, 239). Girls pick berries for the chief- 

 tainess (278). The chief sends out his hunters (94, 146). They go 

 out to search for his lost son (208). In general, the people obey his 

 orders (165). When it is time to move camp, the chief sends out his 

 slave and orders the people to move (see p. 435). He is called the 

 master of the town (N 169); and it is said that there was one chief 

 and a chieftainess in the town, indicating their high position (N 188). 

 We hear, however, also that there are two chiefs (161) arid six chiefs 

 (295) in a town, indicating that the wealthiest and noblest men of 

 the clans were designated by this term. In large towns there are 

 therefore also many princes or people of noble birth (161). 



In return for their services, the chief must feed his people when 

 they are in need (294), and be liberal in arranging feasts. Tho people 

 have fun in the chief's house every evening (218). 



