boas] DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMSHIAN 44 I 



(101) and threaten to commit suicide (248). A chief who is downcast 

 takes courage when his wise men give him advice (220). 



Homesickness overtakes those who stay away from their village 

 for a long time (209, 1.109, 1.115, 1.133, 1.143, 1.155, 1.165, N 105, 

 N 203). They are easily depressed by a feeling of loneliness (242). 



The death of relatives and loss of property make the people sor- 

 rowful. We hear very often about the sorrow of people at the loss 

 of their children (254). The chief of the Sun is sorrowful because 

 his slave has been killed (1 .99) ; a sorrowful man is described as sitting 

 with his back to the fire (170) ; and a woman in her sorrow wishes to 

 dre (218), while a man threatens to commit suicide (248). A curious 

 phrase occurs very often, saying that people who are full of sorrow 

 go out of the house to refresh themselves (272). In 1.105 a man 

 who is threatened with death goes out to cry. 



One of the emotions that are referred to frequently in the talcs is 

 shame. The plot is ver} 7 often founded on this emotion, which is 

 brought forth by the most diverse incidents. A chief is ashamed 

 because his daughter married a Mouse (233); a man, because his 

 younger brother, who had been poor before, is wealthy, and gives a 

 potlatch (N 198); a chief, because his poor nephew wins a contest 

 (N 145); three brothers, because their younger brother, who had 

 been ridiculed by them, proves to be stronger than they (119). A 

 chief is ashamed because his wife's relatives present him with poor 

 food not fit to be given at a feast (185). Failure at attempts on the 

 life of enemies is a cause of shame (334, N 134). A princess is 

 ashamed because her husband does not take her along on a trading- 

 journey (N 196); a woman, because her husband is unsuccessful 

 (299) ; a man, because he does not succeed in imitating his rival (91). 

 A girl is ashamed because she has overeaten and has soiled her bed 

 (154); a boy, because his hungry cousin dips grease up from the sur- 

 face of the water (N 185). 



People are ashamed because they are made- fun of. In one place 

 a man is given the nickname Am'ala', said to mean "dirty" (117). 

 In another place (302) an unsuccessful fisherman is asked, "Did you 

 catch leaves?" A girl makes fun of her lover by causing him, first, 

 <o cut his hair, then to cut his cheeks (1S7). A young man is invited 

 and offered good food, but, at the moment when he is about to take 

 it, it is taken away from him (226). All these are given as causes of 

 shame. 



Scolding is very often given as a cause of shame. A woman and 

 her children are scolded as slaves (234, 284). A gambler is scolded 

 by his wife, who, in a fit of anger, throws the food into the fire. All 

 this makes him feel ashamed (207). 



People who have been made ashamed are liable to leave the house 

 and the village. Thus girls who have been scolded run away (153); 



