QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 125 B 



There are among the neighbouring Tshimsians four 'religions,' orReiigions 

 systems of rites of a religious character. These have no relation tOTshimsi 

 the totems, but divide the tribe on different lines. They are known as 

 (1) Sim-ha-lait, (2) Mi-Ma, (3) Mo-Mem, (4) Hop-pop. The first is the 

 simplest and seems to have no very distinctive rites. The central figure 

 of the worship of the second was at Fort Simpson a little black image 

 with loner hair known as " the only one above." The third are " dog- Rites and 



...,.,,.,. initiation. 



eaters," a portion of their rite consisting in killing and cutting, or tear- 

 ing to pieces, dogs, and eating the flesh. They eat in reality, however, 

 as little of the flesh as they can, quietly disposing of the bulk of it when 

 out of sight. The hop-pop or " cannibals " are those who, in a state of 

 real or pretended frenzy, bite flesh out of the extended arms of the 

 people of the village as a part of their rite. When they issue forth for 

 this purpose they utter cries like hop-pop — whence their name. On this 

 sound being heard all but those of the same religion get out of the way 

 if they can, frequently pushing off in canoes for this purpose. Those of 

 the same creed, and brave, resolutely extend their arms to be bitten. 

 A man may belong to more than one religion, and is in some cases 

 even forced to become initiated into a second. If, for instance, one 

 should pass where dog-eaters are holding a solemn conclave, he may 

 be seized and initiated as a dog-eater nolens volens. Great hardships 

 are sometimes endured during initiation. The more savage religions Deception 



° CT . practised. 



pretend to mysterious supernatural powers, and go to great pains 

 sometimes to delude the common people, or those of other creeds. At 

 Fort Simpson, for instance, a young chief was on one occasion care- 

 fully buried in the ground beforehand. When discovered the opera- 

 tors were pulling at a rope, and were supj^osed to be drawing the chief 

 underground from the back of an island some way off. The rope after 

 a time breaking, great apparent excitement occurs among the opera- 

 tors,- who say the chief is now lost, but catching sticks begin to dig in 

 the ground, and soon unearth him to the great amazement of the 

 vulgar. In this case, however, the cold and cramped attitude so 

 affected the chief that he was lame for life. They instil the truth of 

 such stories especially in the minds of the young, who firmly believe 

 in them. At Fort Simpson, in former days, they have even got up 

 such things as an artificial whale, in some way formed on a canoe. 

 This appeared suddenly on the bay, seemingly swimming along, with 

 a little child on its back. 



Potlatch or distribution of property. 



The distribution of property, or potlatch as it is called in the Custom wide- 

 Chinook jargon (Haida, kie-is-hil), implying, as it appears at first sight, * pre ' 

 such entire self-abnes-ation and disregard of the value of slowly accu- 



