boas] DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMSHIAN 475 



scribed as representing various kinds of animals (333). Another 

 shaman is said to wear a bear-skin blanket besides the dancing-apron, 

 and it is said that his face is painted red mixed with charcoal. He 

 has a rattle in each hand, and eagle down scattered all over his body 

 (350). Shamans of the Ghosts use a skull for a rattle, the handle of 

 which is the backbone. The dancing-apron is set with the bones of 

 the skeleton hung around the bottom like a fringe, and the crown is 

 made of dead men's ribs (327). A powerful shaman has live rattles, 

 the crown of grizzly bears, and the dancing-apron (332). Live rattles 

 are mentioned also on 335 and in N 124. 



The powerful shamans who have live rattles have also birds to beat 

 time and sing for them (N 124). The boards for beating time run 

 into the house like serpents and lay themselves down on each side 

 of the fire. Weasel batons run along behind the boards and beat of 

 themselves. The skin drum runs out and beats itself (332). The 

 shaman has four attendants (323), and the playmates of a boy who 

 becomes a shaman become his attendants (323). 



When curing the patient, the shaman sits at the foot end of the bed 

 and looks into the eyes of the sick person (327, 335, N 124). When 

 he sits at the head end of a supernatural being that has been shot, he 

 sees the arrows that are invisible to all except himself (336). Then 

 he runs around the fire four times, following the course of the sun 

 (326), and he sings his song (83, 332). On 323 the body of a person 

 who is nearly dead, and who is to be treated, is placed on a wide board 

 in front of the fire. 



A shaman is called in to treat the sick chiefs and princes (82). A 

 shaman who tries to obtain food for the people is placed on a platform 

 connecting four canoes. The planks are painted red; and after the 

 shaman lies down on them, he is covered with a mat (349). He 

 works over a sick person for four days (323). While he is singing, he 

 performs the dance of his supernatural protector, the dance of the 

 Squirrel (N 213). The shaman of the Mountain Goats also performs 

 a dance (1.93; see also 133). He uses the eagle tail to fan the breath 

 back into the body (328). 



When the soul of the patient has left the body, the shaman goes to 

 recover it (324, 339). He catches the soul in his left hand (324). 



If a person has a wound, the shaman is able to close it by rubbing 

 over it (336). For this purpose magic words may be used (83). The 

 skeleton of a dead person may be laid out, and a powerful shaman 

 is able to resuscitate it (328, 348). 



When there are many sudden deaths in a tribe, the shamans may 

 go to make war on the Ghosts in order to recover the souls of the 

 deceased (338). If a shaman is sick, he may be cured by another 

 shaman (334). 



