THE WESTERN DENES. 149 



3. Tsoez tcezdillih, (" the imposition of feather down.") This is one 

 of the most important of the whole series and is tantamount to the 

 aspirant successoi^'s elevation to the rank of notable. It is given only- 

 after an interval of long and hard hunting by himself and his whole 

 clan. Prior to the great banquet and distribution, a sufficient num- 

 ber of exo-clansmen, erect according to his directions, a rectangular 

 fencing around the spot where his uncle's remains were cremated, 

 taking their daily meals in a trough shaped carved vessel, the exclusive 

 property of leading notables.^ Then follows the distribution of eat- 

 ables, of which the greater the quantity, the moi'e powerful will be 

 the influence of the future Tceneza. The population of all the 

 surrounding, and sometimes veiy distant villages, is usually convoked 

 for this grand festival which marks the red letter day par excellence 

 in the Carrier's Calendar. 



When everybody but himself and fellow clansmen have retired, 

 the skins they are going to give away next day are counted and they 

 agree among themselves as to those who shall be the chief recipients ; 

 after which emerging in Indian file, they proceed to place swan's down 

 on the heads of those they intend to honor on the morrow. Etiquette 

 requires that nobody be excepted from this ceremony. The persons 

 thus marked out then give them a substantial supper. 



Next day witnesses the aspirant notable's confirmation as successor 

 to his uncle's rank. In the morning all the people are assembled in 

 the usual way in the largest lodge or house in the village wherein the 

 aspii'ant having on none but the most indispensable vestments, stands 

 silent facing the pile of dressed skins which he is about to give away. 

 After a short time his assistant takes swan's down from a small 

 satchel made of the skin of that bird's neck and sprinkles it slightly 

 on his hair. This being done, he takes one of the piled up skins, 

 and, having previously extended it to the general gaze, puts it on the 

 new notable's shoulders as one would a mantle ; which ceremony he 

 repeats in connection with every other skin taking care that all pre- 

 sent have an opportunity afibrded them of counting the same. At 

 the very instant that he places the first skin on the new Toeneza's 

 shoulders, one of his exo-clansmen intones the late notable's chant 



1 These were given the form of a salmon or other totem animal of their possessor, and were 

 similar to the car\ed trou^'hs used in the Solomon Islands to prepare and pound food, of. Pro- 

 ceedings of the London, (England) Royal peographical Society, June, 1888, page 361. 



