120 b 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



Mysterious 

 properties. 



Tshirnsian 

 jester. 



No league of 

 tribes. 



Offenses atoned 

 for. 



frequently added to the titular name of the chief in speaking- of him to 

 the whites, to signify his rank. 



Certain secrets are reputed to appertain to the office of chief, among 

 which is the possession of various articles of property which are 

 supposed to be mysterious and unknown to the rest of the Indians, or 

 common people (Haida a-li-kwa). A very intelligent Skidegate Indian 

 from whom I derived much information, as he was well versed in the 

 Chinook jargon, told me, for instance, that on the death of the last 

 Skidegate chief, the new chief wished him to perform a dance in 

 honour of the great departed, this being one of the rites which it is 

 necessary that the heir should attend to. The dance is one made by a 

 single man, the performer being naked with the exception of the 

 breech-cloth. When my informant was about to engage in the dance 

 the chief took him aside, showing him various articles of the myste- 

 rious chiefs properties. Among others a peculiar whistle, or cell with 

 vibrating reed tongues, which concealed in the mouth enables the 

 operator to produce strange and startling noises, that may be supposed 

 by those not in the secret to indicate a species of possession in the 

 excited dancer. These things are explained b}^ the chief to his probable 

 successor, and are also known to some of the more important Indians, 

 but not to all. They are, no doubt, among the devices for obtaining 

 and holding authority over the credulous vulgar. 



Among the Tshimsians in former days, and probably also among the 

 Haidas, a chief had always his principal man, who has considerable 

 authority, and gives advice and instruction to the chief's successor. 

 He never inherits the chieftaincy, however. Each chief with the 

 Tshimsians had also his 'jester,' who is sent on errands of invitation, 

 announces the guests on their arrival, and makes jokes and endeavours 

 to amuse the company, though preserving his own gravity. The jester 

 is not, of course, always in attendance. He receives nothing for his 

 trouble, apparently looking on the position as honourable, and inherits 

 nothing on the chief's death. 



It not infrequently happens that a chief grown old, decrepit or poor, 

 though the honourable title still clings to him, is virtually succeeded 

 by some more energetic man, who sways the actions of the tribe in his 

 stead. The village appears to be the largest unit in the Haida system 

 of government, and there has not been any permanent premier chief, 

 or larger confederacy or league of tribes. Such unions may doubtless 

 have been formed from time to time for offensive and defensive 

 purposes, but have not endured. 



No laws appear to be acknowledged, but any action tending to the 

 injury of another in person or property lays the offender open to repri- 

 sals by the sufferer, but may be atoned for, and the feud closed by 



