126 B GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



mulated wealth, requires some explanation. The custom thus named 

 is very widely spread, extending not only to all the coast tribes of 

 British Columbia and its adjacent islands, but also to the native inhab- 

 itants of the interior of the Province, of entirely different stocks. I 

 have been able to ascertain more about this custom among the Haidas 

 than elsewhere. Whether in all the other tribes it is so perfectly sys- 

 tematized, or carried out precisely in the same way, it is impossible at 

 present to tell, but among the inhabitants of at least the whole 

 northern part of the coast the usage appears to vary very little. 

 Method of dis- The potlatch besides being a means of combining labour for an 



'tributionof . , x / ' • . ,-.,.,..,,,„... ~, . 



property. industrial ' bee, for purposes m which individual effort is insufficient, 



is also a method of acquiring influence in the tribe, and in some cases, 

 as we have seen, of attaining even to the chieftaincy. The more 

 frequently and liberally an individual thus distributes property, the 

 more important he becomes in the eyes of his tribe, and the more is 

 owing to him when some other member performs the same ceremony. 

 Only in certain special circumstances are the blankets — which gene- 

 rally constitute the greater part of the property distributed — torn into 

 shreds and destroyed. In most cases it is known long beforehand that 

 a certain man is about to make a distribution, for the purpose of 

 raising a house, cutting out and erecting a new carved post, or other 

 exertion. Some months previously, among the Haidas, he quietly 

 distributes among his friends and the principal members of the tribe 

 his property, be it in blankets or money. The mode of distribution 

 and value of property given to each person is thoroughly systematised, 

 and all the members of the tribe know beforehand how manj^ blankets 

 go to each. A short time before the ceremony all this property is 

 returned with interest ; a man who has received four blankets, giving 

 back six, or some larger number in something like this ratio. This 

 retention ef a certain amount of the property and its return with 

 increase, appears to be looked upon as an honour by those to wliom it 

 is given out. The members of the tribe are then called together for a 

 certain date, and at the same time parties from other, and perhaps 

 distant, villages are invited. The work in hand is accomplished, the 

 man for whom it is done making feasts of the best he has for his guests, 

 and the toil being varied by dancing and gambling with the gaming- 

 sticks, which occupy all the time not more profitably employed. The 

 work finished, the distribution takes place, and shortly afterwards all 

 disperse. 



Occasions on It is usual to make a potlatch on the occasion of tattooing' a 



which practis- L ° 



•ed- child, and at other stages in its advance toward manhood. When it is 



desired to show an utter disregard of worldly wealth, the blankets are 

 torn into strips and scattered among the crowd, and money is also 



