452 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [bth.ann.31 



down, and red ocher are sacrificed for success (1.139). A sacrifice of 

 fat is demanded (245). A man who runs away from his pursuers 

 sacrifices by throwing back his offerings (1.185). Offerings consist 

 of fat, eagle down, red ocher, tobacco, food, blue paint, and lime of 

 burnt clamshells (163). Red ocher, eagle down, and elk skins are 

 also mentioned (241). Grease, crabapples, cranberries, dried berries, 

 elk skins, coppers, garments of sea-otter skins, marten garments, 

 abalone shells, canoes, and slaves are sacrificed (273). Coppers, fat 

 of mountain goat, tobacco, fish oil, crabapples, cranberries, red ocher, 

 and eagle down are mentioned as presents to a supernatural being 

 (287); and tobacco, fat, and other good things are thrown into the 

 water as presents to a supernatural being (1.187). G'ilks-atsla'ntk, 

 the slave of the Killer Whales, is given tobacco (1.181) ; and the same 

 personage (called here G'ix-sats'a'ntx - ), the slave of the Stars, is given 

 tobacco, red paint, and sling-stones (N 90). In 1.177 a crane is given 

 a present for making a beak ; food is offered to a supernatural bemg 

 (331). The Mouse Woman always asks for ear-ornaments as a sacri- 

 fice. These are thrown into the fire (194; see p. 460). The super- 

 natural beings are grateful for sacrifices (273) . 



In some of these cases offerings appear rather in the form of pres- 

 ents given at a feast (287) . 



Protection against supernatural beings may also be obtained by 

 means of objects that act upon them like poison. .In 1.173 hellebore 

 and urine are mentioned , which destroy Killer Whales (1.1 87) . Ghosts 

 are also poisoned by " urine and poison and everything that is nasty" 

 (326). 



Beating of chums and sticks tends to drive away undesirable spirits 

 (353). 



Current Beliefs 



A man dies when an owl flies over his head (250) . A woman chokes 

 when looked at while eating (1.161). An absent hunter feels that 

 his wife has been killed (1.163). A man whose wife is faithless has 

 bad luck (1.193) in hunting (318) and in gambling (78). If a person 

 lies down in a coffin, he will die at once (322). When a raven turns 

 over while flying, and utters the cry "Qula'ge gag dze el ban," it is a 

 sign of approaching misfortune (71). A dream in which events are 

 seen comes true (264). After a misfortune the people desert their 

 village (264). 



The contents of the stomach of the porcupine pull porcupine quills 

 out of the skin (110). 



In the same way as supernatural beings have powers not possessed 

 by human beings, so human beings and things belonging to men have 

 powers not possessed by supernatural people. Human beings are 

 invisible to the Salmon people (204). Wnen a man pulls tight the 



