366 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



to make such a distribution, he calls together liis friends and rela- 

 tives, makes an iuveutory of his property, and, with their help, makes 

 out a list of persons to whom he intends giving presents and what 

 articles go to each. It is often the custom, however, previous to call- 

 ing together the friends, for the Lost to quietly distribute his property 

 among his friends and the principal people of the village, who by eti- 

 quette are required just before the time set for the potlatch to return 

 the presents with interest or increase — that is, for four blankets to re- 

 turn sis, or in some such ratio. In this way all the tribe immediately 

 concerned know what they are to get, and the immediate friends and 

 relatives know what the visitors are to receive. The inventory being 

 made out and the council of advisers assembled, the list is read out 

 name by name. A.s soon as a name is read, the friends jiresent ex- 

 press their api)roval or disapproval of the intention to give the indi- 

 vidual named such and such present. The list being finally made 

 out, the messengers are sent out to announce the date and to invite 

 the guests. On the assembling of the guests, on the date fixed, feast- 

 ing and dancing are indulged in. If the occasion is for the purpose 

 of raising a house, cutting out and erecting a new carved column, or 

 undertaking some industrial enterprise requiring the combined effort 

 of many, the feasting and dancing alternate with the work, gambling 

 being indulged in during spare times, and the distribution takes place 

 when the work in hand is finished, after which all disperse. In this 

 case, however, the gifts are in the nature somewhat of reward for serv- 

 ices, and go to the guests pure and simple, the relatives receiving none ; 

 but in case of a grand potlatch, unconnected with the industrial idea, 

 all receive presents according to the list made out. In any case, how- 

 ever, the distribution is the final ceremony, and is conducted as follows : 

 The guests all being assembled, the goods are displayed about the 

 walls and on i)oles and cords or piled up on the floor in a great mound. 

 The host stands or sits arrayed in ceremonial attire, and presides over 

 the affair with the ceremonial baton in his Land. The herald blows a 

 call similar to that shown in Fig. 334, announces the opening of the 

 ceremony in a speech, extolling the liberality and prowess of the host, 

 and calls a name, giving the present he is to receive. An attendant 

 takes the present and deposits it in front of the person who is to re- 

 ceive it, where it remains until all are thus honored, the names being 

 called out one by one. On the announcement of each name, the host 

 solemnly nods his head and thumps on the floor with his baton. The 

 whole ceremony forcibly reminds one, in a general way, of a Sunday- 

 school Christmas-tree distribution. Formerly slaves were given away 

 to the rich and powerful visitors, but to the poorer guests worn-out 

 blankets, or even pieces or strips of blankets were and still are given, 

 on the principle that to those who have shall be given. A song is sung, 

 a dance performed, and the guests disperse, but frequently a repetition 

 of the whole affair occurs in the next lodge, and so on until the whole 



