XIII. 



FEASTS, DANCES, CEREMONIES, POTLATCHES, THEATRICALS. 



I. Initiatory Ceremonies: Marriage — child-birth — naming — 

 piercing the ears and nose— tattooing — puberty — bringing 

 out — self-naming — chieftaincy — glorification of the dead. 



II. Festive Ceremonies: Welcome — trade— house-building— 

 potlatches— ceremonial dances — "cultus" dances — theatki- 



CALS. 



Festivities in general in this region consist in singing, dancing, feast- 

 ing, and in the distribution of presents ; in the parade of ceremonial 

 paraphernalia, and in elaborate ceremonies, accompanied by all the 

 pomp and display that native wealth, ingenuity, and resource can add 

 to make them effective. Invitations to attend are sometimes extended 

 only to the people of certain totems in the settlement; sometimes the 

 whole village is invited ; often all from distant tribes are summoned. 

 The host invites according to the significance of the entertainment, or 

 to his resources and abilities to bear the expense. People of small 

 means do not as a rule go outside of their own village, while a chief, 

 from his wealth and the dignity due his position, extends his summons 

 to the people of distant villages. Long before the occasion messen- 

 gers are sent out to notify the guests, the invitation being general, 

 to men, women, and children. Some of the ceremonies are initiatory 

 in their nature, celebrating the advance of children towards manhood 

 or womanhood; some mark the endeavor of men to attain respect and 

 consideration by the display of wealth, by the giving of presents, and 

 by lavish entertainment; while others are obligatory on aspirants for 

 rank or authority. Eunning through it all are the regard for wealth 

 and show; the petty envies, jealousies, and rivalries of ambitious indi- 

 viduals and families; the tricks, fictions, and debasements to attain 

 ends; the love of applause, power, and advancement; and, above all, 

 a nicety in the gradation of presents to correspond with the abilities 

 of the recipients to return in kind. This marks a great step in the 

 evolution of the sentiment of gratitude, which is purely a product or 

 attribute of civilization. In fact, in this curious social organization, 

 based on wealth and family, we recognize so many touches of nature, 

 that our kinship with them is too apparent to admit of our judging 

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