588 REPORT—1890. 
Tue PotTuarcH. 
The custom of giving great feasts, at which a large amount of pro- 
perty is distributed, is common to the Nootka and all their neighbours. 
The principle underlying the potlatch is that each man who has received 
a present becomes, to double the amount he received, the debtor of 
the giver. Potlatches are celebrated at all important events. The 
purchase-money of a wife belongs to this class also, as it is returned to the 
purchaser after a certain lapse of time (see below). After the death 
of a chief, his heir is not installed in his dignity until he has given a 
great petlatch. If he is to be the chief of the whole tribe the neighbour- 
ing tribes are invited to take part in the potlatch. The taking of a name 
and that of a dance (see p. 600) are also celebrated by a potlatch. This 
custom is practically the same among all the tribes of the north-west 
coast. When a chief has to give a great potlatch to a neighbouring 
tribe, he announces his intention, and the tribe resolve in council when 
the festival is to be given. A messenger is sent out to give notice of the 
intention of the chief to hold a potlatch at the agreed time. When all 
preparations have been finished, and the time has come, another 
messenger, called ia/tsetl, is sent out to invite the guests to come to the 
festival. The guests come in their canoes, and when not far from the 
village they halt and dress up at their nicest, smearing their faces with 
tallow and then painting with red colour. Then the canoes proceed to 
the village in grand procession, their bows being abreast. At this time 
certain songs are sung, each tribe having its own song. When they are 
seen to approach, the tribe who have invited them go down to the beach. 
The chief’s son or daughter is attired in the dress and mask of the crest 
animal of the sept, and performs a dance in honour of the guests. The 
ta'tsetl next calls the name of the head chief of the visitors, and he comes 
ashore. Then the others are called according to rank. They are led 
into the chief’s house, after having received one or two blankets when 
landing. On entering the house they are also given a few blankets. 
The guests are feasted first by the chief and then by all other members 
of the ‘tribe who can afford it. Finally, after a number of feasts have 
been given, the chief prepares for the potlatch, and under great cere- 
monies and dances the blankets are distributed among the guests, each 
receiving according to his rank. At the potlatch certain songs are sung. 
Each chief has a song of his own that is only sung at his feasts. Here is 
the song of the Ts’éca’ath sept, sung when its chief gives a potlatch :— 
Solo. Chorus. 
2s = Se] ae Fs a 
Se ee 
eS “st “o-oo. =o f=; i = 
Ha-wa-wi - na - yi ha-wa-wi - na-yi ae -Wa- Wi - na-yi 
eating “lly pt Bg | O242| &e.} 
1 The batons used in beating time are raised at the heavy parts of the bar: this — 
accounts for the peculiar rhy thm given above. a 
