496 TSIMSHIAX MYTHOLOGY [eth. ann. 31 



Social Rank. — Among the members of the tribe the chief and the 

 nobility take a prominent position. The chief is called SEm'dg'id, pi. 

 SEmg-ig-a'd 116, line 9 from end. This term contains the elements 

 sum- ("real"), g'ad ("persons"), and an unknown element -a. The 

 plural means "the real, the eminent people." The chieftainess is 

 called sig'idEmna'x, pi. sig'idEmhd'nax, probably from SEm-g-id-Ein- 

 hana'x ("chief woman"). The term, on the whole, is used to desig- 

 nate the rich man of noble birth who is respected by the people, and 

 designates high rank. A great chief is called wi-SEm'a'g-id ("great 

 chief"), or Jc.'a-SEin'a'g-id ("head chief"); for instance, Ada Ida- 

 SEm'a'g'it a txan.'i' SEm-g'ig'a'dEin Ts ! E-msia' nga° ("He became a 

 great chief among all the Tsimshian") 1.188.2. In his position as 

 leader of the people, whose commands must be obeyed, he is called 

 mid'n ("master") 224, line 9 from end. In this sense there is only 

 one master in a town, while there may be several chiefs (see p. 429). 



The chiefs and their families are of noble birth, and as such are 

 called SEmg'ad wul-na-t!a'°l ("chief company") 234.7. More fre- 

 quently a person of noble birth, entitled to become a chief and master 

 of a town, is called Igu-wa'lks, pi. Tc!abE-wa'Tks{" nobleman," " prince"), 

 and the whole family may be called wul-na-t!a'H k!abE-iva'lks (" noble 

 company") 234.30. 



Another term is used to designate a person of noble birth, Igu- 

 ya'°lcs 1.72.18; 1.114.20. This term is never used for people of the 

 very highest rank, but seems to apply rather to chief's relatives who 

 are to occupy minor positions in the tribe. The prince's (Igu-wd'lls) 

 companions seem to be taken from this group. I have also found 

 the term lEk'.ag-a'd used for people of noble birth. 



People without relatives or ancestors are called wa-a'uu (wa- 

 diganai 236.24). On account of then lack of connections they 

 can not ordinariby attain to high positions (see 234.31). 



The chief is assisted in his social obligations by the attendants 

 (sEl-wa'lks) 188.15; 208, line 3 from end; 217, line 9 from end; 

 233.14. The literal translation of this term is "prince companions." 

 At other places these are called a°Iks 1.132.18. The warriors are 

 called alx ("braves") or wul-do' g'iik ("warriors") 266. 



The chief's attendants were the men of high rank, and their posi- 

 tions were hereditary. The four exogamic groups were represented 

 among the attendants of a great chief. This may possibly be a more 

 recent development winch occurred after the time when different exo- 

 gamic groups began to be represented in the same village. The old 

 men of the group of attendants were the chief's advisers or coun- 

 selors. 1 They staid much of the time in the house of the head chief, 



1 According to older information which I obtained in l\ss, and uiiirh expresses the same facts as those 

 stated above, nobody who does not bear a high name, or who is not a member of a secret society, is allowed 

 to participate in the deliberations of the council. The mother's brother represents Ins nephews, who have 

 mil vei obtained high names. Women are admitted only when they are heads of noble families. 



