boas] TSIMSHIAN SOCIETY 501 



according to Duncan, that it is forbidden to kill the crest animal. 

 He says, "The Indian will never kill the animal which he has adopted 

 for his crest, or which belongs to him by birthright. If he sees 

 another do it, he will hide his face in shame, and afterwards demand 

 compensation for the act. The offense is not killing the animal, but 

 doing so before one whose crest it is." Frazer, 1 who quotes this 

 passage, comments on it, stating that no other writer refers to it, and 

 seems to imply that it may have been overlooked by others. I have 

 never been able to get evidence from the Indians regarding this point. 2 

 In our tales there is no indication that any animal was taboo for 

 certain persons, excepting the reference to the G'it-na-gun-a'ks tale, in 

 which the men were forbidden to kill fish (see p. 451). On the con- 

 trary, the implication in many cases is that the animals slain may 

 become commemorative crests. I sent a copy of Mayne's statement 

 printed above to Mr. Tate, with the request for information. Ills 

 reply shows that the idea was so far from his mind that he did not- 

 even understand its meaning. On account of the importance of the 

 subject, I give here his reply: 



"As to your question about crest animals, yes, some animals are 

 not eaten. Meat and tallow of the grizzly bear are eaten, and its skin 

 is used. Wolves are not eaten because they eat corpses; eagles are 

 not eaten, but their down is used; ravens are not eaten, for they eat 

 unclean things. Most of the crests are not eaten, but some are used 

 for food; but when a hunter's days are fulfilled [i. e., after his fasting], 

 he must kill the first animal he sees in order to become successful. 

 In olden times, people were not allowed to make fun of any animal, 

 large or small, bird, beast, fish, or creeping animals." 3 



It is quite obvious that the thought that an animal could be tabpo 

 because it is a crest animal did not even occur to Mr. Tate. At 

 another place he reverts to my question, which evidently troubled 

 him, and he says: 



"Some animals are not eaten by the people: 



"Grizzly bears are not much eaten, because they kdl people. 



" Wolves are not eaten, for they eat corpses. 



" Killer whales are not eaten, for they eat people. 



"Frogs are not eaten, for they were people before the daylight 



was liberated (see p. 62). 

 " Bullheads are not eaten, for they were touched by Txa'msEm 



(see p. 71). 

 "Starfish are not eaten, for they have no meat. 

 "Dogfish are not eaten, for they are of no use, only their eggs 



are good. 

 "Cormorants are not eaten, for they are dumb. 

 "Kavens are not eaten, for they eat eyes of corpses. 



Exogamy, m, p. 311. "■ See Boas 1, 1889, p. 810. ' See p. 445. 



