boas] DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMSHIAN 439 



their crests (290). Then slaves or the chief's attendants serve food 

 to the guests (183, 224, N 193). 



After the feast the guests take the remainder of the food home 

 (250, N 207). In a great intertribal feast the dishes and the remain- 

 der of the food are thrown into the fire (277). It is said that the 

 guests who come from other villages take food home in their canoes 

 (180, 183). 



After the meal is over, the chief announces the object of the invi- 

 tation — to proclaim a wonderful experience of his tribesmen (101), 

 to announce the return of a lost daughter (343), to celebrate the 

 supposed return to life of a deceased daughter (267), to show his 

 daughter's son whom the daughter brings when returning after a 

 long absence (242), to welcome a returned male cousin (321), to tell 

 of adventures (151), to celebrate a marriage (299, 1.171), to show 

 his bride to the tribe (ISO, also 1.111), to welcome guests (109), to 

 show guests to the people (287), to test the strength of his nephews 

 (118), to prepare the body of a dead child (58), to take a name (274, 

 312, 1.83, 1.123), to proclaim a crest or take a position of high rank 

 (267, 2S4, 290, 294, 312-313, 320), after the death of father or mother 

 (N 1S6), or to deliberate over matters of common concern (106, N 76; 

 see p. 431). A chief invites his own people in order to ask them to 

 gather food which he intends to send to his daughter who is mar- 

 ried in another village (182). During a famine a chief invites all the 

 bribes in order to feed them (160, 183). 



Great festivals are given when a man takes a position. A prince, 

 for instance, sends messengers to all the tribes, and invites chiefs, 

 ehieftainesses, princes, and princesses, and announces that he takes 

 his mother's uncle's greatness. Then the presents are given away 

 (313), while he holds a copper on his chest (232) or head (N 164). ' 

 The host sings while he stands by the pile of property (N 164). In 

 X 199 the guests sing. Then the goods are distributed. 



After the food has been served, the chief gives away his presents, 

 which represent very great values '(232, 313, N 194). These' are 

 brought down to the middle of the house (233, 294, N 164, N 193, 

 N 198) and distributed by the host's uncle (N 164). All kinds of 

 property (see p. 435) are given away; and every guest receives his 

 share, the chiefs more than people of lower rank. Thus it is said 

 that a widow gives each chief one bundle of salmon, and divides one 

 bundle between each married couple (160). During a famine the 

 presents consist of various kinds of food (213, 231). At the same 

 time food is sold to visitors for property which may be distributed 

 at the same festival (213). 



The ocean-being Na-gun-a'ks, who has received presents from his 

 human guests, distributes them among his guests at a festival to 



'In a note (313 1 it is also slated that ho stands before the i>oople, holding a copper over his head. 



