444 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [eth.ann.31 



Pity is often described as a lovable quality. The people cry for 

 pity (259). A youth takes pity on a goat that is maltreated by 

 children (132), a prince is rewarded because he feeds the eagles 

 regularly (225 et seq., N 169 el seq.), and a chieftainess shares her last 

 salmon with a stranger whom she pities (293). A mother comforts 

 her sorrowful daughter (238), and the people try to comfort their be- 

 reaved chief (58). The modesty of a hunter is rewarded, who, in an 

 encounter with a supernatural being, ascribes to him success in hunting 

 (95) . Humility seems to have been appreciated, as appears in the tale 

 N 189, in which a prince is rewarded because he takes pity on a slave- 

 girl, whom ho asks to sit down next to himself in the rear of the 

 house. The poor maltreated boy receives supernatural help and 

 succeeds in a contest. He shoots the white bear, being as quick as a 

 fly (N 143); and although the people ridicule him, he wins (N 139). 

 The poor boy who does not show his strength is a favorite theme 

 (117, N 151). Poor people should be humble, and, when entering 

 the house, not walk proudly up to the fire, but keep along the sides 

 (219). Patience and persistence in pursuits are rewarded (310). 



Noble people should be abstemious and eat little. A heavenly boy 

 eats very little (59); a prince eats very little (225, N 169); a hunter 

 is warned not to eat too much, in order to avoid danger (149); a 

 deserted princess refuses to eat (N 152); a deserted boy neither 

 speaks nor eats (N 149, N 173); a deserted boy and a chief's daughter 

 fast (N 146); a visitor eats little only (153). In one tale the advice 

 to eat little may have been given to keep the hunter active and fresh 

 (149); but in most cases it is evidently proper behavior to eat little, 

 and a means of attaining success. A woman who has been abducted 

 only chews fat (177). Here belongs also the restraint of noble people 

 during famines. 'Noble youths only chew a little fat during a famine 

 (192, 225), and a noble family eats but very little (250). Correspond- 

 ing to this is the degradation through greed. A hungry princess who 

 dips off oil from the surface of the sea with her fingers is despised 

 (231), and Raven's greed makes his father so ashamed that he deserts 

 him (N 37) or sends him away (61). 



Children are indulged and given what they ask for (61). It is 

 seldom that any restraint is demanded of them, as when a child is 

 asked not to cry so as not to waken enemies (N 91). Only children 

 that are to be trained to obtain supernatural power are subjected to 

 severe trials (see p. 451). 



The badness of people is also often described. In several talcs it 

 is said that in olden times the people were foolish and careless (1.243) ; 

 that they were proud and overbearing on account of their great num- 

 bers (161). Sometimes it is simply said that people were happy in 

 olden times because they were numerous (278). The people in Prairie 



