boas] TSIMSHIAX SOCIETY 497 



and deliberated with him upon matters of public interest. Before a 

 potlatch the chief had to obtain the consent of these counselors, who 

 had to assist him by contributing to the outlay. Loans of this kind 

 were refunded to them at the proper time. The nephews of the 

 counselors work for the chief. They go hunting and perform house- 

 hold duties, as described on p. 429. 



The warriors were also men of high rank. There were generally a 

 few head warriors of high position, such as the chief 's nephews or the 

 nephews of the head attendants. In case of war the warriors would 

 twit one another on account of then- rank, and a warrior of high rank 

 might demand that he fight with a person of equal rank. It would 

 have been a reproach if no adversary of equally high position could 

 be found. Great warriors were humble in their bearing toward then- 

 own tribe, and were loved by everybody. 



The companions of the prince and princess (that is, of the son and 

 daughter of the head chief), who are mentioned so often in tales 

 (see p. 432), were nephews and nieces of the principal attendants. 

 They always belonged to the same exogamic group to which the 

 prince or princess belonged. It was the custom to assign to a 

 head chief's son or daughter four noble companions of the same 

 sex, and, besides, a slave-boy or a slave-girl. These companions, or, 

 as they are often called, "friends," were slightly older than the prince 

 or the princess. The boys would accompany the chief's son on 

 hunting-expeditions, at feasts, and whenever he left the house. The 

 companions of the princess had to teach her to make baskets ; one 

 would comb her hair, wash her face, and paint her; another one 

 would be in charge of her clothing; and they had to accompany 

 her whenever she went out. The slaves assigned to them had to 

 do all the menial work, or, as Mr. Tate expresses it, " they had to 

 assist the companions." 



In the conditions found in Tsimshian villages in later times, the 

 distinction of rank between the head chief, nobility, and people of 

 low rank, was obviously very great. The head chiefs selected among 

 their nephews the one who was to succeed them; or the head chief 

 of one exogamic group would select among his sons one whose rank 

 he would raise by the proper means to such an extent that he 

 would occupy the head position in another one (see p. 356). 

 The nephews and nieces of the head chief, and the descend- 

 ants of the whole group of women belonging to this group, 

 formed the nobility. Among these also a difference of rank 

 may be observed, dependent upon the renown of the name held 

 by the individuals. The rank of the name was determined by 

 the deeds of valor or ostentatious display of wealth of the last 

 few bearers of the name. The name and position might also lose 

 50633°— 31 eth— 16 32 



