272 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888 



to-day we have the court sword as a survival of the sword or rapier 

 carried by gentlemen of other periods. In the same way, Fig. 63 is a 

 Tlingit ceremonial dance wand in the shape of a dagger; and Fig. 64 is 

 a Haida baton (called by them TasJcear), in the shape of a war lance of 

 earlier days. Fig. 55 is a fragment of an ancient Haida baton {TasM 

 or TasTcear,) the lower part being missing. The top figure of the carving 

 represents the raven, below that the crow, and then the whale. Be- 

 tween the whale and the next lower figure, which is SMmson, the spar- 

 row-hawk, is a spindle and socket, which pull apart. The sparrow-hawk 

 I'ests on Slcillik, the ceremonial hat, which in turn rests on Tsing, the 

 beaver. Tbis baton is carried in the hand by the chief on the occasion 

 of a great potlatch or feast. At a given signal the two parts are sepa- 

 rated and the distribution of presents begins, the chief retaining one 

 part in each hand. Fig. 57 is a carved cane or wand from Vancouver 

 Island, British Columbia, inlaid with pearl shell, and is the finest spe- 

 cimen of native carving from the southern Indians in the Museum. 

 Figs. 61, 62, and 65 are types of the Haida chiefs' batons or Taskears ; 

 they are held in the hand on occasions of ceremony. At a potlatch the 

 chief calls the name of the recipient of a present, and then thumps on 

 the floor if the gift is satisfactory to the guests, as explained later on. 

 In the totemic theatrical exhibitions these batons indicate the totem 

 and rank of the bearer. When a chief dies and is laid out in state the 

 baton stands near his body. In Fig. 61 the top figure is a chief wear- 

 ing a ceremonial hat, or SMlUTc, similar to the grass hat in Fig. 40. The 

 lower carved figure is the frog. In Fig. 65 the upper figure is Koot, the 

 eagle, and the lower Tsing, the beaver. 



Rattles, Snappers, and Whistles. — In dealing with ceremonial parapher- 

 nalia it might be well to describe here all the accessories of ceremo- 

 nial costumes, such as the accompanying rattles, snappers, drums, 

 whistles, etc. These, however, are reserved for Chapter VII, where 

 they are dealt with as musical instruments. 



Ceremonial Blankets. — In connection with Plates ix and x, a very 

 well-known type of chiefs ceremonial costume has been described in this 

 chapter. The Ohilkat and cedar bark blankets are important factors in 

 all ceremonial dances and functions. Other forms of ceremonial blankets 

 or mantles are made from Hudson Bay Company blankets, with totemic 

 figures worked on them in a variety of ways. The usual method is to 

 cut out the totemic figure in red cloth and sew it on to the garment (or- 

 namenting it with borders of beads and buttons) by the method known 

 as applique work; another method is to sew pieces of bright abalone 

 or pearl shell or pearl buttons on to the garment in the totemic patterns. 

 Plate XIX well illustrates the applique method. Fig. 74, Plate xix, is 

 a vestment which hangs pendant down the back, representing the 

 totem or crest of the wearer. Fig. 75 represents a cloak with a neck 

 opening ornamented in red cloth with the totemic design of the Orca 

 or killer. 



