438 XSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [BTH 



cally referred to (63, 92, 279, 1.129, 1.151). Sometimes the 

 stay on the platform of the house until the meal is ready, and are 

 then called down to the fire (286). The chief himself is seated in the 

 rear of the house (108, 321). Noble guests are seated at his side 

 (324) or on his right-hand side. (321). The chief tainess sits next to 

 the chief (218), one wife on his right, the other one on his left 

 (N 194, N 205). The child for whom a feast is given sits in the rear 

 of the house (60), taking, obviously, a position quite different from 

 that of a guest. A princess, on the other hand, who is welcomed 

 with great ceremony and carried into the chief's house on a wide 

 plank, is placed b}^ the side of the fire (211). 



A hunter who returns with his game, puts it down on mats spread 

 out on the ground, and gives it to his father-in-law (1.95). 



The meal that is served has been described before (p. 406). When 

 food is prepared for the guest, he smiles to express his pleasure (94). 



All social events are celebrated by feasts, often accompanied by 

 distribution of property. A man gives feasts to his uncle's people 

 (274). A successful hunter, on his return, gives a feast to all the 

 people, builds a large house, and becomes a head chief in his genera- 

 tion (154). A successful fisherman invites all the Tsimshian tribes 

 to a feast (171). Another one gives a feast to the chiefs almost 

 every year, so that his fame spreads all over the world (291). Still 

 another one gives many feasts to all the tribes (242). 



A chief sends a messenger (N 77, see p. 434) to invite his own tribe 

 to a feast, and to ask the consent of his people to give a feast to all 

 the other tribes. Then he sends out messengers (ISO, 183, 290). On 

 their arrival, the messengers are called into the chief's house, where 

 they are fed (132). The messengers return and announce the accept- 

 ance of the invitation. Sometimes the date set for the great festival 

 may be as many as two years off. Then the chief's people and 

 related tribes will gather, and, in the interval, make the objectsneeded 

 for the festival (275). When they are ready, messengers are sent out 

 again to invite the people. On the appointed day the guests arrive 

 (290). Before they reach the village they dress up in their best 

 clothing, paint their faces red, and cover the hair with eagle down 

 (257). They stay in their canoes in front of the village while the 

 people assemble to meet them (210, 290). The head chief invites 

 them to come ashore (290). The chief's people then come out of the 

 chief's house, dancing and singing, to welcome the visitors, and go 

 back. Then the visitors are led into the chief's house. If there are 

 several tribes, each tribe is assigned a seat b} T itself (183). When 

 the guests are seated, they sing and beat time on planks and on a 

 wooden drum (63), and the chief dances in then- honor (63, 321), or 

 his people dance (224), wearing their crests (132). The guests wear 



