148 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Evei-ything being ready in one of the largest houses, the aspirant 

 notaVjle's maternal nephew (that is, his own presumptive heir) pro- 

 ceeds to call in every member of any but his uncle's clan, which he 

 accomplishes by striking the ground with a cer-emonial staff at the 

 feet of the person thiis invited without uttering a word. The future 

 notable's fellow clansmen being reputed co-invitatox*s with him go in 

 of themselves. The commune vulgus being assembled in the lodge 

 (before the notables who though the fii-st invited are the last to come), 

 the latter are introduced by the master of ceremonies who, pointing 

 with his staff to their respective places (which is strictly defined by 

 traditional usage), calls them individually by their hereditary names ^ 

 repeating in loud tones for instance " Qi ! qi ! Rahul, qi ! qi ! "' The 

 interjections accompanying the proper name (Rahul) are of ancient 

 origin and never used in common parlance. Then begins the repast 

 or rather distribution of victuals, double or treble portions being 

 allowed the notables present, the whole accompanied with copious 

 libations of liquid bear's grease for the distribution of which ladles 

 and spoons manufactured from the horns of the mountain goat, 

 similar to those represented by figure 16, are brought into requisition. 

 At the termination of this banquet, the aspirant notable tears a few 

 dressed skins of leather in long strips of the width necessary to make 

 mocassins, which he distributes to the assistants, taking care to give 

 double size to those intended for the notables. This last distribution 

 is in the Carrier's estimation the most important part of the whole 

 proceedings, inasmuch as it is regarded as paramount to the atoning 

 for the notable's death, and is practised whenever one wants to wipe 

 out .shame or remove grief - 



2. The second " potlatch " is given when a new supply of eatables 

 and skins has been collected, and is in every respect but its aim 

 identical with the first. It is intended as a celebration in honor of 

 the deposition of the remains of the late Tceneza in the appointed 

 place of i-espect in the house, even though said remains may have been 

 previously cremated. So far, his successor is considered merely as an 

 aspirant to his late uncle's title. 



1 This is never done except on special occasions, every notable having besides, at least, one 

 other name. 



2 Sometimes whole suits of dress are thus publicly given away. 



