THE WESTERN DENES. 153 



Then will follow the grand distribution of skins and clothes, after 

 which the host will divide among his predecessor's rcilatives, all the 

 latter's personal property and even present them with his own wear- 

 ing apparel, reducing himself to a state of almost perfect nakedness. 

 Then as a finale, the deceased's remains will be deposited in a box 

 suspended on a cai'ved wood column such as (though generally more 

 ornamented than) those delineated in figure IS.'^ 



XVI. 



The above mentioned and any other dances were usually performed 

 by a single person — genei'ally a man. He would usually dance in a 

 kind of jumping way, making with hands and head occasional gestures 



1 The Government Reports on Indian Affairs do not distinguish the different kinds of pot- 

 latch but state many facts from which one may fomi an idea of the ma^itude of these feasts. 

 In Xovember, 1SS3, at Lacksem, Valde's Island, B.C., a pot-latch was held which lasted a week 

 and at which more than 2000 Indians and half-breeds were present. The entertaining tribe's 

 savings of several yeai-s are said to have been given away, one young man contributing goods 

 to the value of .■<400, (Report, 1884, p. 97). A Chief named Lohah in 1SS.5 gave a pot-latch to 

 about 2500 pereons of different tribes at the village of Comeakin, B.C. He feasted his guests for 

 over a month, then sent them away with his accumulated savings of the five previous j'ears. 

 3000 Indians and half-breeds partook of a pot-latch at the Quamichean Agency, B.C., in June, 

 1886. It lasted a fortnight and impoverished the entertainers. The goods usually distributed 

 consist of skins, horses, personal clothing, guns, canoes, blankets and in late yeai-s monej-. On 

 one occasion in 1876 we read of .■?15,000 worth being distributed in presents, chiefly blankets 

 which among the Indians west of the Rockies was then the standard of value (Report, 1876, p. 

 36). In another case the gifts consisted mainlj- of 134 sacks of fiour, 140 pairs of blankets, 

 apples and provisions=8700. 



For some years the government has been trying to put down the pot -latch. The reasons 

 assigned are : first, that it is wasteful in the extreme and impoverishes the givers ; second, that 

 by collecting together a large niuiiber of persons who are under no rule and are given to excess, 

 it forms a danger to the public peace. At length an act was passed and was brought into force 

 by proclamation of the 1st of .January, 188.5. It abolishes the pot -latch and makes its celebra- 

 tion a misdemeanour. It deals in a simUar manner \nth another feast called Tauianawas. We 

 have no detailed account of it such as Mr. Morice gives us of the pot -latch, but the Tamanairati 

 would seem to consist of a Methcine Dance somewhat like the Thirst Dance of the North-West 

 Crees and to be accompanied with lacerations. The more distant tribes of British Columbia 

 preserve their ancient customs, and the older chiefs in places where civilization has penetrated 

 defend their practices by arguments such as these : — " We have laboured for the goods, they are 

 ours ; why may we not give them to our friends ? The white man has his feasts, his theatres, his 

 churches. He is not hindered. We have only the pot-latch and dances for seasons of joy and 

 sorrow, for entertainment and amusement. The pot -latch is long established, it relie\es the 

 agony of the deceased's surviving kindred and calls forth the s.vmpathy of friends and neigh- 

 bours. The presents ensure us a hearty welcome where\er we travel and are themselves but a 

 return in kind for others which we received at other times. Is it not unjust to prohibit so 

 ancient and so beneficial a custom?" Nevertheless, the pot-latch seems in a fair way towards 

 extinction. I should mention that Mr. Lomas of the Cowichan Agency has Vjeen trying to con- 

 vert the pot-latch into an .-innual Industrial Exhibition, and has met with considerable success. 



Cii S. Com. 



