448 THK TLINGIT INDIANS I Kiii. ans. I'G 



To stop one from spitting ))lood, .slugs were dissolved in water to 

 form a slime, )vhich was given to the patient to drink. 



The wealth-])ringing medicine above referred to was only one of 

 many things that were supposed to bring riches. If a person who was 

 destined to become wealth}' were chopping firewood he might discover 

 eight eggs looking like the largest dog-salmon eggs and very soft. 

 These were called "firewood eggs" (gAn kahii'gu). He had to take 

 these down to his house immediately and leave them outside just over 

 the door. After that he must enter, wash his head, hands, and feet in 

 urine, fast, and abstain from women for some time. Otherwise, as 

 happened to the father of my interpreter, the eggs would go away. 



Katlian, one of the chiefs at Sitka, has a small wooden box wound 

 with coi'd and the hair of slaves and pierced with eight small holes. 

 There are now nails in the corners, but these are said to have been put 

 in after the Russians came, the box itself being much older. This is 

 called daniVkMakl't and contains things that were supposed to bring 

 wealth. Just what these are was not learned. Originally some of the 

 sun's manure was among them, but its first owner did not act right, 

 and it disappeared. If the gonaqAde't were seen to come up in the 

 ocean l)efore such a box was made the foam it raised was put in. 



Before a man could open this box he had to remain away from a woman 

 for four months. At the end of that period he fasted for seven days 

 and very early each morning ho had to strip, wade out into the sea 

 until he was beyond his depth, being sure to return before the raven 

 cried. If the raven did cry before he was through that minute he 

 was certain to die. On each of the seven days of his fast the man blew 

 through one of the small holes and then sucked out. The eighth was 

 for the day on which he ate. Just at daybreak on that day he took 

 out all of his property in skins, etc., and spread the charms in his l)ox 

 over them. There must be two boxes of grease near the fire, some 

 of which was put into the tire at that time and some over the per- 

 son's own hair. This was to feed the articles in the l)ox. As he was 

 putting grease into the fire he made a motion toward the charms, put 

 his hands up to his face, and lilew out. And while his hands were up 

 to his mouth lie said, "Let me t)e wealthy. Let me ha\e five slaves," 

 etc. Then he jjut the ai'ticles back, along with l)its of beaver skin, 

 marten skin, etc., and put the box away, and when it was broad day- 

 light he took what was left of the grease to other houses. 



In olden times this box caused people to l)ecome wealthier continu- 

 ally, and was handed down by a man to his nephew, who then had to 

 do exactlj' like his uncle. If one did not use the medicine right the 

 charms disappeared from inside, and he became poorer than before. 



