476 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [eth. ann. 31 



If the shaman disobeys the orders of his protector, he may die. 

 Thus a number of shamans who, although they have been forbidden 

 to do so, try to cure people who have been dead more than four days 

 are taken away by the Ghosts (330). 



In order to protect the tribe, the shaman orders them to keep taboos 

 (199). He also catches the first salmon and treats it according to the 

 customary taboos (200; see p. 449). He also teaches the people who 

 are starving how to catch halibut (349). 



Four shouts of the shaman bring down the birds (341 ; see also 

 p. 453). When an enemy tries to poison him by feeding him on the 

 flesh of corpses, he takes flesh out of his left side without being 

 harmed (334). He takes a spring of water along in his bear-skin 

 blanket (334). When an enemy tries to harm him, he is fed with 

 meat put on the end of a staff, which he must bolt down without 

 chewing (334). Supernatural beings sometimes try to overcome sha- 

 mans. Thus the Ghost chief, whose village becomes depopulated by 

 the success of a shaman who cures all the sick people, pretends to be 

 sick, and sends for the shaman in order to overcome him (326). 

 The Cannibal dancers, who are hostde to the shaman, try to destroy 

 him (334). The sick woodman Bagus calls shamans to his aid, and 

 destroys those who are unsuccessful by throwing them into a lake of 

 blood. Another unsuccessful shaman is transformed partly into 

 stone by the same supernatural being (336). A human enemy tries 

 to poison a shaman with dried human flesh (329) or with other kinds 

 of poison (333). He protects himself by poisoning those who tried 

 to overcome him (333). 



A shaman who has been disobedient is kept in the town of the 

 Ghosts (330), and becomes the chief of the Ghost town (330). 



Magical dogs die after they have killed a powerful shaman (152). 



A renowned shaman is called in by people in need of his services 

 (N 123). Three messengers are sent to fetch him (335). When his 

 fame spreads all over the country, he is traveling about all the time 

 with his attendants (333), and the people assemble to witness his 

 practices (333). He is sent for when his services are needed in a 

 distant country (335) . He receives payment for his services, and thus 

 becomes wealthy (333). In N 125 a girl is given to him in marriage in 

 payment for his services. Before his art is known, ho may offer his 

 services. Thus a boy sends his grandmother to offer his shamanistic 

 services (N 123). When a person is very ill, the shamans of all the 

 tribes are called in to cure him (338). The shaman may not only heal 

 sickness, but he can also put sickness into his enemies (N 122; see 

 also 333). The shaman himself becomes sick when his power is put 

 into the bones of a body (334), and he dies when he places himself 

 in a coffin (329). Corpses are always dangerous to shamans (327). 

 Envious rivals may try to kill a powerful shaman (333). 



